UK and Switzerland Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Direct Rail Link

UK and Switzerland Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Direct Rail Link

The UK and Switzerland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a direct rail link between London and Switzerland, the government announced on Friday.

A working group will be set up to study ways to overcome commercial, technical, and security obstacles to the circulation of trains connecting the UK to Switzerland, through the Channel Tunnel and France.

To date, travelers from London have direct links to Brussels and Amsterdam.

The agreement, signed on Thursday by Swiss Environment, Transport, Energy, and Communications Minister Albert Rösti, and UK Transport Minister Heidi Alexander, seeks to boost cooperation on international passenger rail transport, according to the DETEC.

"A direct link between our two countries is an ambitious goal. This Memorandum lays the foundations for a joint reflection on the steps to come. Such an initiative would send a strong signal in favor of international relations with the UK," Rösti said.