Eurostar introduces double-decker trains through the Channel – a new era of sustainable travel across Europe
Eurostar has announced the biggest upgrade in its history – an investment of two billion euros to procurement 50 new double-decker trains which the French will make Alstom Group. Eurostar is introducing double-decker trains through the Channel – a new era of sustainable travel across Europe begins with this innovation. These are the first two-level trains that will operate through the Channel Tunnel and the British rail network, marking the beginning of a new phase in the development of international rail transport.
The new fleet will be called Eurostar Celestia, inspired by the Latin word celestial (celestial). The trains will be built according to Alstom's platform Avelia Horizon, known for its high energy efficiency and modular design.
More space and new destinations
Each 200-metre set will have approximately 540 seats, what is 20 percent more compared to existing trains. In an extended 400-metre formation, it will be able to carry more than 1,000 passengers after driving.
The new Eurostar Celestia will be interoperable on the network encompassing five countries which Eurostar currently connects – the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany – with plans for expansion towards Geneva i Frankfurt.
Commencement of operations 2031
The first trains are expected to be delivered in January 2031., while commercial rides planned for May of the same year. In the first phase, six new trains will be in service, and by the end of the decade, the fleet should grow to a total of 67 furnishings – 30 percent more than today.
Eurostar will maintain its entire fleet in London Temple Mills Depot, which will be upgraded with an investment of around 80 million euros. The project will also open approximately 350 new jobs in the United Kingdom.
Focus on sustainability and comfort
Celestia trains will be fully electric I am made of 97 percent recyclable materials, with 25 percent of components already coming from recycling. Special attention has been paid to accessibility, comfort, and quietness of the ride. Suggestions have been incorporated into the design Putnika, association for persons with disabilities team members of the Eurostar team.
„This is a golden age for sustainable international travel, and Eurostar is leading the change,“ she said Gwendoline Cazenave, Chief Executive Officer of Eurostar.
Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Alstom's CEO, added that the new train „embodies the vision of sustainable and competitive European mobility“.
New impetus for European tourism
Increased capacity, new destinations and a premium travel experience make Celestia an important step for European tourism. Shorter journeys between London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels and Frankfurt they are becoming an attractive alternative to air travel, particularly for business travellers and the MICE sector.
Eurostar is further strengthening its role in promoting Green and intermodal mobility – a key trend in the development of European tourism in the next decade.
Sources Railway newss
