New High-Speed Train Routes Are Coming to Europe

Traveling across western Europe and the United Kingdom by train is about to become easier and quicker, thanks to the merger of two prominent railway operators, Eurostar and Thalys.

Currently, the London-based Eurostar transports passengers from London’s St. Pancras station through the Channel Tunnel to multiple French cities (including Paris, Calais, Lille, and Lyon), as well as Brussels, Belgium, and Rotterdam and Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, the Belgian rail network Thalys covers destinations in France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium.

While both companies have overlapping routes in France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, they primarily serve different cities within those nations. Furthermore, Thalys does not currently operate in the U.K., and Eurostar lacks services in Germany.

“This is an exciting advancement for our customers as it will allow us to provide a broader network, improved connectivity, and more frequent service, all powered by renewable energy,” stated Eurostar CEO Mike Cooper in a statement.

Although the exact date for the merger to take full effect is still uncertain, once implemented, travelers will be able to journey across the five countries—the U.K., France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium—with a single ticket. Additional advantages include more departure times and a unified loyalty program.

The goal of these developments is to encourage more passengers to use the train services. One of the merger's objectives, known as Project Green Speed, aims to boost ridership to 30 million annually by 2030 (before the pandemic, the combined passenger count for both companies was 19 million).

“By collaborating with Thalys, we will broaden our reach while simultaneously providing a strong response to the pressing climate change issue and the rising demand for sustainable travel,” Cooper stated.

The plan was initially unveiled in 2019 but faced interruptions due to the pandemic. It wasn't until late March 2022 that the European Commission granted approval for the merger.