Once connecting London to Paris and Brussels only, Eurostar has already expanded to include routes to cities including Cologne – Image: Michael Nguyen/NurPhoto/picture alliance
The monopoly operator of the Channel Tunnel connecting the UK to the continent Eurostar has ordered 30 French-made “Celestia” trains, with an option for 20 more. The expansion comes as rival firms eye use of the line for train travel.
Eurostar announced this week that it would purchase up to 50 new two-level trains for use across its entire network of trains from major European cities like Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Cologne to London St Pancras station via the Channel Tunnel.
The company said it had reached a €2 billion (roughly $2.3 billion) agreement with French manufacturer Alstom to buy the planned all-electric “Celestia” trains, starting in 2031.
Eurostar bills the purchase as an expansion plan, saying the 30 or 50 new trains will run alongside its existing fleet of just 17 single-decker Siemens-built e320s. The new models will have 20% more seats, a lower floor and a higher ceiling than the current ones.
Although double-decker trains are not used on the British rail network, save for one experimental two-tier model in service around half a century ago, the busier rail lines in the southeast of England are among the few that can in theory cater to larger, taller trains.
A common sight on European rails, double-decker trains are not suited to much of the UK network, because of low bridges and rail lines too close together. The high-speed line from the Tunnel entrance in Folkestone to St Pancras in London was built to match European standards and inaugurated in 2003.
The line from Folkestone to King’s Cross St Pancras is among comparatively few in the UK capable of accommodating European high-speed locomotives – Image: Alex Grichenko/Zoonar/picture alliance
Eurostar seeks expansion and new lines, as rivals eye use of Channel Tunnel
Long the monopoly operator on the renowned rail line underneath the English Channel, connecting London to the continent without boats or planes, Eurostar is looking to expand its services to include cities like Geneva and Frankfurt in the coming years.
Eurostar chief executive Gwendoline Cazenave told the PA news agency the company awarded the contract to Alstom as it wanted to receive “bespoke trains as soon as possible,” ensuring it is “leading the race” to meet the growing demand for international train travel.
The “milestone order” was part of Eurostar’s “ambitious growth strategy” to reach 30 million passengers per year, up from 19.5 million in 2024, she said. Cazenave also said the larger trains would provide extra space for bicycles and wheelchair users, as well as more legroom for passengers. Travelers will be able to choose which level they sit on, with no difference in price, the company says.
Alstom chief executive Henri Poupart-Lafarge said the announcement demonstrated Eurostar’s desire to “combine technological performance, energy efficiency and passenger comfort.”
The vehicle transport service, operated by GetLink, uses the same undersea tunnel between Folkestone and Calais but is not part of the Eurostar passenger service – Image: Goldmann/picture alliance
Eurostar plans to renovate and expand its depot in Temple Mills in East London, to maintain and operate the new fleet from there.
But the company may also be set to face competition on the world’s longest underwater segment of railway for the first time.
The UK rail and road regulator is expected to announce a decision in the coming weeks on which other operators should be given access to Temple Mills.
Several operators, including Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, state-owned railway company FS Italiane Group and Gemini Trains have expressed an interest.
Eurostar is majority owned by French state railway company SNCF. The British government sold its stake in the operator to private companies in 2015.
(DW.com/NAN 23-10-25)
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