Brits will be able to take train direct from London to GERMANY under plans from Eurostar rival

By SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 09:33, 15 July 2026 | Updated: 09:35, 15 July 2026 Brits will be able to travel to Germany by train under a new plan to rival Eurostar's Channel Tunnel.  British-based start-up Gemini Trains says it will operate rival services to Paris and Cologne, and plans to expand to Frankfurt and Düsseldorf.  Gemini hopes to make Stratford International its main London station and says trains would also stop at Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International. The railway operator will lease eight electric 200-meter trains with a capacity for more than 550 passengers.  It also aims to run around 11 services a day by 2030. Currently, Eurostar runs about 26 services a day from London.  Tickets will be subject to dynamic pricing, but the company hopes to offer one-way fares to Paris for about £59.  Trips to Cologne will take about four hours, similar to Eurostar’s London–Amsterdam service.  The company says on its website: 'Gemini Trains understands the growing demand for long-distance rail travel and recognises rail competition is expanding significantly in Europe. Yet on the core Channel Tunnel route currently, there remains only one choice for customers. Brits will be able to travel to Germany by train under a new plan to rival Eurostar's Channel Tunnel 'We believe there is a significant opportunity for a dynamic and innovative operator offering mixed ‘economy’ and ‘business’ seats at a competitive price to Eurostar.' Eurostar has been the only operator in the Channel Tunnel for the last three decades.  Recent changes have laid the groundwork for higher competition.  Billionaire Sir Richard Branson wants to launch high-speed cross-Channel train services in 2030 from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam at lower prices than Eurostar.  Other competitors include Italian train operator Trenitalia and Spain's Evolyn.  Meanwhile, Eurostar is looking to invest around £1.7 billion in a fleet of 50 double-decker trains, allowing direct services to Geneva and to Frankfurt via Cologne by 2031.  The new 'Celestia' trains are planned to withstand temperatures of up to 55C.  It comes after trains were badly affected by the heatwaves last month. Eurostar said four trains between London St Pancras and Paris Gare du Nord were cancelled on a single day, 25 June, 'due to expected adverse weather' on the network.