By TOM LAWRENCE

Published: 22:55 GMT, 19 March 2025 | Updated: 23:14 GMT, 19 March 2025

Plans have been revealed for a superfast train network dubbed ‘Tube for Europe’ which could revolutionise travel across the continent.

The metro-style trains would cut travel times to top European destinations and could depart from the UK cities of London, Liverpool, Glasgow and Belfast.

Starline promises speeds of around 250mph, boasting just a three hour trip from Helsinki to Berlin, a journey which currently takes a full day.

A trip between Kyiv and Berlin, which historically is an overnight journey would become ‘seamless connection’, the company said. 

Under the plans, every European country would have at least one station, stretching from Portugal to Turkey and Ukraine and including the UK and Ireland. 

Train stations for the new high-speed railway would be cultural hubs situated outside city centres.

Starline said the stations will be active public spaces with venues and public squares which make them destinations in their own right.

The company aims to mimic the European Union logo, using the colour blue as a symbol of the new European transport network.

The concept would see high speed trains link major cities across Europe

The concept would see high speed trains link major cities across Europe 

The interiors in the design are focused on comfort rather than space optimisation

The interiors in the design are focused on comfort rather than space optimisation

Train stations would be situated outside of major cities and would become cultural hubs

Train stations would be situated outside of major cities and would become cultural hubs

It plans to make the blue trains as recognisable as red double-decker buses in London or yellow taxis in New York. 

Like the London Underground, the high-speed trains will not be separated by class, allowing flexible travel experience for passengers.

The interior of the trains will feature quiet zones for focus alongside open areas for conversation. Family friendly zones will be incorporated to make the long journeys easier for children.

Cafe zones will also be available for passengers on the trains, allowing for refreshments. 

As well as passenger travel, Starline is also looking to incorporate a freight network to make transportation of goods quicker for businesses.

The plan currently remains a concept, but the company hopes to fund the project with investment from the European Union and national government funding.

It follows plans by London St Pancras Highspeed to open up more European destination for passengers.

The company, which owns the station and high-speed track to Folkstone, Kent, wants to ramp up competition among Eurostar and other railway operators.

The train network would work similar to the London Underground with different routes across the continent

The train network would work similar to the London Underground with different routes across the continent

In the plans, travel times to major cities would be hugely reduced, making travel across countries possible in several hours

In the plans, travel times to major cities would be hugely reduced, making travel across countries possible in several hours

It wants to expand the international departure area at the London hub and accommodate up to 5,000 passengers an hour – up from 1,800 an hour.

The company and French firm Getlink, which operates the Channel Tunnel, have agreed to work together to ‘grow international rail connectivity between the UK and Europe’.

Getlink hopes that direct services could serve Frankfurt, Cologne, Geneva, Zurich and eventually Milan. This would be an expansion from the direct trains which Eurostar runs to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.

The designers of the Channel Tunnel hope that yearly traffic will be double the present level.

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Superfast train dubbed the ‘Tube for Europe’ plotted for metro-style stops across the continent

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