Deutsche Bahn (DB) will test a high-speed train this year, following its first cross-channel voyage, for a direct rail service between London and the German city of Frankfurt.
The 200mp/h Inter City Express (ICE) 3 train will undergo a safety exercise in the Channel tunnel and will arrive at St Pancras International terminal in the UK on 19 October.
DB is considering a route that will begin in Frankfurt, with stops at Cologne and Brussels, which is expected to cut the travel time to London by 3h 55min.
Channel tunnel safety authorities have already relaxed regulations for DB to operate a London-to-Frankfurt service and said it could use the high-speed terminal at Stratford in east London.
The ICE train will have to pass other tunnel safety tests before it commences full services by the end of 2013, according to guardian.co.uk.
