Direct trains between London and Berlin could be built under a new bilateral treaty between the United Kingdom and Germany.
The two countries are forming a joint task force to plan a direct rail link, which the U.K.’s government said would boost tourism and enhance cross-border trade. The Kensington Treaty also includes commitments to bilateral investment and defence cooperation.
“We’re pioneering a new era of European rail connectivity and are determined to put Britain at the heart of a better-connected continent,” said U.K. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
“The economic potential is enormous. 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 U.K.”
This direct rail link would act as a faster and more environmentally friendly alternative to air travel, said Alexander. The task force will determine these trains’ commercial and technical requirements, as well as safety standards and border security measures.
The U.K. and Switzerland also signed a memorandum of understanding in May to explore potential direct trains between these countries. Eurostar said last month that it aimed to run direct services from the U.K. to Germany and Switzerland by the early 2030s.
The Kensington Treaty is the first major bilateral treaty between the U.K. and Germany. The two countries will establish a U.K.-Germany Business Forum to increase investment, which U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said would bring more than UK£200 million into the U.K.
These countries will also collaborate on military exercises and coordinate arms exports to Ukraine under the treaty.
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