Direct train connections from London - Frankfurt are now delayed for several years.
Deutsche Bahn said on Thursday that the proposed service would not be in place before 2016. The company originally hoped to start running trains on the route in 2013.
It was due to receive 16 ICE trains worth a total of about 500 million euros ($US641 million) from Siemens in late 2011.
But technical problems have led to delays and Siemens said on Wednesday it was delaying the delivery date.
Deutsche Bahn said the trains were ordered in December 2008. It intends the 640km London - Frankfurt trip would take about five hours.
Eurostar is also planning to start a London - Frankfurt and Cologne service in the coming years, once it receives its own order of trains from Siemens.
