SBB would have an agreement with Virgin

No other city attracts as many Swiss travelers as London. However, there is no direct train to get there. Similarly, The CFF director believes that this must change. In addition, A British conglomerate could contribute to it.

Stefan Ehrbar / CH Media

“When sbb would have agreement virgin a man is tired from London, he is tired of life,” sentenced the English writer Samuel Johnson. However, 250 years later, the British metropolis attracts millions of visitors, including a crowd of Helvetians.

About 12,000 people take the plane every day from Zurich, Basel and Geneva airports to get there. However, Some passengers only transit, but about 8,000 of them have the final destination in the United Kingdom.

In addition to tourists, many wealthy business customers provide the city regular attendance throughout the year. Consequently, This makes it an attractive destination for railways. Similarly, The problem: there is currently no direct affair. Meanwhile, Maybe more for a very long time.

The director of SBB, Vincent Ducrot, revealed in March sbb would have agreement virgin a desire to set up direct trains to the British metropolis. Moreover, In May. Nevertheless. the sbb would have agreement virgin Minister of Transport, Albert Rösti (UDC) went to London, where he signed a declaration of intent with his counterpart, Heidi Alexander.

Size challenges and a possible solution

But serious obstacles remain. Consequently, The United Kingdom is not a member of the Schengen area. She insists that the entry formalities do not take place on her floor, but in the starting stations. This would involve building terminals in Zurich, Basel or Geneva. In addition, personnel would take to ensure control similar to that of airports. Finally, specially equipped trains would be necessary to suit the various electrical systems.

However, the project seems to be more likely than before. The sbb would have agreement virgin operator of the Channel Tunnel, Getlink is, wishes more commercial rivalry. He encourages potential Eurostar competitors to offer new offers.

Mainly owned by the SNCF, Eurostar now represents the only company to circulate traveler convoys in the Channel Tunnel. The operator of the London station of St Pancras also wishes to increase its capacities in order to allow. new direct links to Europe.

Among the companies interested in new trains Figure Vte Holdings. owned by the Virgin Empire of the British billionaire Richard Branson. VTE recently asked the Office of Rail and Road (Orr) access to a deposit in eastern London. This is a prerequisite for any exploitation through the tunnel.

Do SBBs participate in the acquisition?

VTE is sbb would have agreement virgin currently one of the three candidates interested in the deposit. Only one will be selected. British authorities are expected to make their decision in the fall. sbb would have agreement virgin Virgin is in good position. because the group has the necessary capital and a concrete plan for the acquisition of trains.

The company told the authorities to have concluded an agreement with the manufacturer Alstom. for the delivery of twelve high -speed trains Avelia Stream. They should circulate from 2030 under the Channel, at first towards Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.

But they could also be able to circulate in Germany and Switzerland. The documents reveal that VTE is already in talks with the SBB. Vincent Ducrot recently announced his intention to acquire his own TGVs, which would serve destinations in Europe. In the case of London, SPFs could share sbb would have agreement virgin the amount of acquisition with VTE. Ideally, it would take five or six hours to connect Basel and Geneva to London. And six or seven hours from Zurich.

“An innovative and unique offer”

A VTE spokesperson confirmed that negotiations were currently underway with the SBB. The content of these discussions being confidential, she could not give more details at this stage. Many passages have been made up of documents intended for the authorities.

Sabrina Schellenberg. spokesperson for CFFs. indicates that direct links from Switzerland, departing from Zurich, Basel and Geneva should materialize towards London in the 2030s. “For a direct link. it would be better to cooperate with a partner. ” she said before adding:

CFFs will therefore probably lead to discussions with Eurostar and others, in addition to VTE.

The Virgin group. Conglomerate of Richard Branson, sbb would have agreement virgin is active in sectors such as telecommunications, music industry and aviation. Branson also founded Virgin Galactic, which offers tourist flights in space. Forbes estimated the fortune of this 75 -year -old man at 2.8 billion dollars.

He has major promises for future trains in the Channel Tunnel. In a letter addressed to the British authorities. he writes that it is time to offer customers “the service they deserve”. to end the 30 years of Eurostar monopoly. Virgin will “upset” the market and offer “innovative, daring and unique” service.

(Translated from German by Valentine Zenker)