German train giant to spark price war with airlines as it speeds 200mph express from Frankfurt to London

 

 

By Ray Massey, Transport Editor

Last updated at 4:17 PM on 20th September 2010

 

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• Bullet train set to arrive at St Pancras next month in trial run
  
• One way fares could be as little as £49
  

The nation renowned for making the trains run on time is to launch a 'dry run' trial for a 200mph high-speed cross-channel link between London and Frankfurt.

German railway giant Deutsche Bahn - which has already bought up a number of UK train operators - has now set its sights on competing with the airlines and arch rival Eurostar between the UK and the Continent.

The company is to bring one its latest German 'bullet trains' through the Channel tunnel and into the capital's St Pancras International terminal on October 19 to showcase its plans for a high speed link between the two financial centres from December 2013 - sparking a new price war.

 

Bullet across the Channel: The 200mph 'Bullet Train' planned for a new express service between Britain and Germany

 

The aim is to cut the train travelling time from Central London to Frankfurt, nicknamed 'Bankfurt' in Germany because it is the nation's major financial centre, from around six hours to between four and five hours.

A direct non-stop route is achievable in 3 hours 55 minutes. This will compete with approximately 4 and a half hours needed to fly there, once travel to the airport, check-in time and the 1 hour 30 minute flight time are put together.

The extra competition could also mean lower fares. Experts say a one way trip could be between £39 and £49. The Germans are considering stops in Cologne and Brussels and Lille.

The centre-to-centre travel will also mean business travellers and tourists can relax for longer in their seats or work via wi-fi rather than enduring the hassle of airline check-in, security and trips to and from the airport.

 

Enlarge The planned Frankfurt=London route: Using the 200mph 'bullet trains' should improve air travel times between the two financial centres by about half an hour

 

However the high speed German -built Inter City Express (ICE) trains will first have to pass stringent safety tests to pass through the Channel Tunnel - including evacuations.

Deutsche Bahn chief executive Ruediger Grube is understood to be arriving in London on the dry run trip, marking the significance of the event.

It highlights how far international relations have moved. Seventy years ago, at the height of the Battle of Britain, the narrow strip of water was all that separated Britain from German invasion. Today the nation which was defeated is now running much of Britain's railways.

The news comes as UK Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond this week visits areas in the Chilterns and the Midlands affected by a controversial high speed rail link plan linking London to the North - which would feed into the Continental high speed rail network. The Tories back a high speed link to the North, but are critical of the route set out by Labour.

Last month French and German transport ministries released a joint statement saying they had agreed to work together on changes to European rules covering rail and air transport..

Eurostar launched in 1994 and now carries 9 million passengers a year between London, Paris and Brussels.

Rail analyst Chris Meek said the German bullet-train would increase traffic between London and the Continent:'And the main source of the traffic will be diversion from air.'

 

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1313646/Making-trains-run-time-German-train-giant-promises-200mph-express-Frankfurt-London.html#ixzz105vlW5hM

they should do that before NYE 2010:wideeyed:

Why?:confused:

Anyway, RyanAir would still be half the price.;)

Why?:confused:

Anyway, RyanAir would still be half the price.;)

 

But I bet the train won't charge you £40 if you forget to book-in online or £1 to use the toilet. Or have silly weight limits or bag size limits

But I bet the train won't charge you £40 if you forget to book-in online or £1 to use the toilet. Or have silly weight limits or bag size limits

 

If you abide by their rules, you'll never have a problem, as I never have.;)

You can't beat 20-30 Euros return!:smug:

I use Ryanair and I've had no problems.

I use Ryanair and I've had no problems.

 

My point exactly. I fly with them regularly, and I've never had any problems other than the odd delay you can have with any airline.

I've also hardly ever paid more than 40 Euros for a return flight with them.;)

Apart from their border-line legally advertising of fees-free flights, but oh by the way you HAVE to pay £5 per person each way to check-in online. Not to mention the various gauntlet you need to run to try and avoid their card payment fees

that thing would not work in Spain, i mean a train with that straight route design and apparently few stops :uhoh:

Apart from their border-line legally advertising of fees-free flights, but oh by the way you HAVE to pay £5 per person each way to check-in online. Not to mention the various gauntlet you need to run to try and avoid their card payment fees

 

Well then please feel free to travel with another airline with whom you might end up paying double.:P

I don't care how the fees are all calculated when I end up paying only 30 Euros return, even if they said it was "leprechaun tax".:lol:

At least Ryan Air are better than BMI baby, their cages for hand-luggage are the right size ;)

 

I would imagine that train route being used by people not wanting to go though the whole security stuff you need to do at airports

At least Ryan Air are better than BMI baby, their cages for hand-luggage are the right size ;)

 

 

Been Watchdogging, have we?:P

Yep ;)

Yep ;)

 

Have a secret crush on Ann Robinson, do we?:rolleyes:

No, but I bet you do though :wink3:

Guess again............................ :rolleyes:

 

You are the weakest link - goodbye!;)

*does walk of shame before having a brief interview saying that people ganged up on me to vote me off*

*does walk of shame before having a brief interview saying that people ganged up on me to vote me off*

 

They never admit they deserved to be voted off because they were sh*t, do they?:P

Nope, even when they get all their questions wrong and waste time.

Nope, even when they get all their questions wrong and waste time.

 

The show's pretty much a waste of time altogether anyway, considering what p*ss poor prize money is on offer!:rolleyes:

Great,except the part about having no desire to go to Frankfurt.

Great,except the part about having no desire to go to Frankfurt.

 

Neither do I. From what I've heard, it isn't a very exciting city.:rolleyes:

Would you be able to fly there by helicopter?, if you had the money to hire one or would you run out of fuel.

Would you be able to fly there by helicopter?, if you had the money to hire one or would you run out of fuel.

 

From where?

For once, an interesting article!

 

I think it's so funny that a half hour difference is so huge in transport between two countries; flying from NJ to HI takes about 12 hours! :lol: Although it's a beautiful flight; especially when flying above the islands and seeing the volcanoes. . . :wacky:

 

Anyway. These bullet trains are so cool, I'd love to take a trip on one. :awesome: