London is one step closer to getting a direct high-speed train to some of Germany ’s most iconic cities.

Eurostar and German national rail company Deutsche Bahn (DB) are exploring options to run non-stop services between the UK and Europe’s largest economy, the Department of Transport has confirmed.

Set to start in the early 2030s, the routes would use Eurostar’s new double-decker Celestia fleet , set to be the first double-decker rolling stock operated in the UK and the Channel Tunnel.

If plans go ahead, millions of passengers could reach Cologne in four hours and Frankfurt in less than five hours from the UK capital.

But nothing has been said about a direct service to Berlin , despite Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, praising the idea earlier this year.

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