Uber Trains Set To Challenge Eurostar With Stratford International Services

Uber Trains is set to become a new competitor to Eurostar on the cross Channel rail network following a major submission by Gemini Trains, a start up rail venture, to the Office of Rail and Road. The company has unveiled ambitious plans to establish Stratford International in east London as its main hub, opening up a fresh gateway to the continent. For the first time, Stratford International—equipped with passport, customs, and Border Force facilities—may see high speed international services after years of serving only domestic needs.

Gemini Trains, chaired by the veteran railway engineer Lord Berkeley, intends to operate a fleet of ten trains under the Uber Trains brand. Services are expected to launch as early as 2029, subject to regulatory approval. By using Stratford International and reactivating Ebbsfleet station as a key stop, Gemini aims to bypass the congestion and overcrowding increasingly experienced at St Pancras. This new approach could ease the departure process for thousands of travellers, as Stratford’s connectivity has improved dramatically with the arrival of the Elizabeth Line, which puts central London just over ten minutes away and connects seamlessly to Paddington and eventually HS2 at Old Oak Common.

Gemini’s vision does not stop at Stratford. The company plans to reopen Ebbsfleet in Kent, leveraging its significant parking facilities and strategic position between the M25 Dartford Crossing and the future Lower Thames Crossing. This move would serve as a parkway station, opening up international rail travel to a catchment area of 18 million people across the southeast, making major European cities more accessible without the need for passengers to traverse central London.

A key differentiator for Uber Trains is its partnership with the Uber taxi app. Passengers will be able to book both their taxi and rail journey in one seamless process. The aim is to offer the kind of integrated travel solution that has until now eluded rivals, including Eurostar, which have struggled to provide a single platform for end to end connections. Gemini’s debut international services will initially connect Stratford with Paris, Lille, and Brussels, before expanding into Germany through Cologne—positioning itself as a new gateway to eastern Europe.

The competitive landscape for cross Channel rail travel is shifting rapidly. With other operators such as Virgin Trains Europe and Trenitalia eyeing the route, the rise of Uber Trains signals a new era in international rail, promising increased choice, fresh investment, and broader access for British travellers and businesses seeking efficient European connections.