A new YouGov poll suggests plenty of Swiss travellers would happily trade the airport queue for a rail ticket to the UK — if the right service existed. Commissioned by Transport & Environment (T&E) alongside actif-trafiC and ATE, the survey of more than 1,000 Swiss adults found 58% back developing direct rail links to Britain, and 61% of those who usually fly to London said they would switch to the train if fares were competitive.

The catch is that no direct trains currently run between Switzerland and the UK. Getting to London by rail means changing in Paris, and the whole trip takes eight to nine hours from Zurich and up to eight from Geneva — with tight security checks at the Gare du Nord adding to the stress. Unsurprisingly, seven in ten Swiss residents heading to the UK still fly. They have plenty of options, too: an average of 50 flights a day link Switzerland with London, including around 21 from Zurich, 23 from Geneva and six from Basel.

Change may be coming. Eurostar, Swiss operator SBB and France's SNCF Voyageurs signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2026 to work together on potential direct connections between London and Switzerland. Proposed services would reportedly cut journey times to five to six hours — the threshold at which the survey says six in ten Swiss rail travellers would choose the train over other modes for international trips.

The demand side looks solid. Nearly half of Swiss people already take a train abroad at least once a year, and a majority think international rail infrastructure should be a spending priority. T&E argues the climate case is strong too, given the emissions savings versus short-haul flying, and has published a to-do list: get federal and regional authorities and rail operators on board, push the Swiss government to upgrade stations that could handle direct London–Geneva and London–Basel/Zürich services, and — crucially — make sure fares stay affordable, which the poll flagged as the decisive factor for consumers.

If the trains happen, the market is broad: skiers heading for the Alps, hikers and wild swimmers, business travellers, and weekenders chasing London theatre or Swiss Christmas markets would all benefit. For now, though, anyone set on travelling Switzerland–UK overland still needs to plan a change in Paris and allow the better part of a day.