Brakes off for train travel to Switzerland

The dream of direct train services from the UK to Switzerland is edging closer to reality, with both nations signing a cooperation agreement aimed at overcoming obstacles to the proposed rail link.

- BY MILO BOYD

Currently rail travellers between London St Pancras International and Switzerland typically switch trains and stations in Paris, resulting in a total travel time to Geneva of seven-and-a-half hours.

Direct services could slash this journey time to around five hours. By comparison, flights from Heathrow to Geneva clock in at one hour and 40 minutes.