A major fleet of double-decker trains is set to run on the UK rail network for the first time as part of the Eurostar services operating through the Channel Tunnel.
Eurostar has revealed it is buying up to 50 high-speed two-storey trains for its network across five countries – and will include the services between London St Pancras and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
The “new generation” electric fleet of 200-metre trains will be named Eurostar Celestia and will also see the introduction of services from St Pancras to Frankfurt and Geneva.
Commercial services using the new trains are expected to begin in May 2031.
Eurostar also said the new fleet will create around 350 more jobs at its Temple Mills depot in London, where it plans to maintain its entire fleet.
It said it will be investing €80m (£70m) to develop the site so it can “accommodate the new trains”. Most of the firm’s jobs are already based in the UK.
Eurostar has confirmed an initial order for 30 trains and has an option for a further 20 as part of a €2bn (£1.74bn) deal with the manufacturer, Alstom.
The trains will operate alongside Eurostar’s existing 17 single-decker Siemens-built e320s and will boast 20% more seats, a lower floor and be 16cm taller.
Double-decker trains do not have twice as many seats as single-deckers because space is needed for interior steps.
‘More than a thousand seats per service’
In a statement, Eurostar said: “It is expected that each 200-metre set will have around 540 seats.
“If running in 400m formation (as through the Channel Tunnel today), there would be around 1,080 seats per service.”
The company said the Celestia fleet will herald a “golden age for international sustainable travel” and will make up to 50% in energy savings compared with its existing trains.
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Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave said: “Placing this milestone order marks the concrete realisation of Eurostar’s ambitious growth strategy – to reach 30 million passengers by investing in a brand new fleet.
“We’re particularly proud to bring double-decker trains to the UK for the very first time.
“Customers can expect a very special new train with Eurostar Celestia, which will offer exceptional comfort, a unique Eurostar experience and new surprises to be revealed.”
