German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has announced plans to run direct trains between London St Pancras and the German finance capital as early as 2020, The Times reported.
The new service, which would complete the 400-mile journey through the Channel tunnel in five hours, would be launched as Britain pulls out of the European Union.
The rail operator was given permission to build the direct line back in 2013 but plans were halted due to a lack of high-speed trains.
A spokesman for the company said the trains were still behind schedule and it is waiting on more stock before launching the line.
And, following the delivery of more trains, Deutsche Bahn will prioritise routes to Belgium and northern France before the UK.
But Jacques Gounon, the chairman of Eurotunnel, said he is "quite sure" the re-launch of the proposals will take place in the next decade.
He said he is waiting for the new chief executive of Deutsche Bahn to be announced before commencing talks - following Rüdiger Grub’s resignation in January.
“I am waiting for his appointment in order to meet him to re-launch the Frankfurt toLondon routes through Deutsche Bahn, but it will take time,” he told The Times.
“It is something like two to three years, so we are dealing with 2020 and beyond that.
“I am quite sure that it will happen but it takes time of course.”
