Having recently announced it will expand it operations into Germany and Switzerland, Eurostar has now revealed the new way passengers will be getting there: double-decker train.
Dozens of new Eurostar double-deckers will be built for the international rail operator by Alstom Group, creating a 'Eurostar Celestia' fleet. An order for 30 trains has been confirmed, with an option for a further 20.
At 200 metres long, each train will have around 540 seats. When running in 400-metre formation (as they usually do through the Channel Tunnel), there would be around 1,080 seats per service — approximately 20% more capacity than Eurostar's services as they stand. As far as we know, the trains will run to all of Eurostar's current and future destinations.
The first Celestia trains — which will be all-electric, and made from 25% recycled materials — are expected to appear from January 2031, with commercial services launching in May 2031. Eurostar's current fleet of 17 e320s will continue running, bringing the operator's total fleet to 67 trains.
The entire fleet will be maintained at the Temple Mills depot in Leyton.
The name 'Celestia' was selected by members of the Eurostar team, and is derived from the Latin word caelestis, meaning 'heavenly'.
Says Gwendoline Cazenave, Eurostar CEO: "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."
There is something thrillingly 'European' about the notion of double-decker trains in London, however, this will not in fact be the first time they have operated here. In 1949, the SR Class 4DD was introduced on the route between London Charing Cross and Dartford, the last units only retiring in 1971.
