Plans drawn up for London to Berlin trains as part of new UK-German transport treaty

Plans for a new, high-speed rail service between London and Berlin are reportedly being drawn up by a UK-German taskforce. 

Announced as part of a new bilateral treaty between the UK and Germany, signed yesterday (July 17) by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the plans are said to be a  “significant step forward” in the possibility of a rail connection between Britain and Germany.

The joint taskforce will consult experts from both Britain and Germany's transport networks in the hopes to hammer out issues that have made the concept difficult to deliver in the past — such as border controls, safety issues and other legal requirements. 

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UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told The Guardian that the government is “determined to put Britain at the heart of a better-connected continent”; sharing hopes that visitors to Berlin could one day be able to travel “direct from the comfort of a train".

“This landmark agreement has the potential to fundamentally change how millions of people travel between our two countries," she said "Offering a faster, more convenient and significantly greener alternative to flying.

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“The economic potential is enormous," she continued. "A direct rail link would support the creation of jobs and strengthen the vital trade links that underpin our economic relationship with Germany. British businesses will have better access to European markets, whilst German companies will find it easier to invest and operate in the UK.”

Germany has also agreed to allow "some" UK nationals to use passport e-gates as part of the new treaty, which according to the government will come into action "by the end of August". 

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter