Eurostar has unveiled a landmark €2 billion* investment in up to 50 new double-decker trains, marking the first time such trains will operate through the Channel Tunnel and across the UK network. The company has confirmed a firm order for 30 trains, with an option to acquire an additional 20, signaling a key step toward Eurostar’s goal of serving 30 million passengers annually.
The forthcoming fleet, named Eurostar Celestia, will be based on Alstom’s Avelia Horizon platform and feature a bespoke design tailored to Eurostar’s premium service standards. Each 200-meter train will be interoperable across all five countries currently served by Eurostar, with future routes extending to Geneva and Frankfurt.
The name Celestia comes from the Latin caelestis, meaning “heavenly,” and captures the company’s idea of linking a network of cities across Europe. Seat capacity is set to increase by 20% per train, with approximately 540 seats per 200-meter unit. Operating in the 400-meter formation used through the Channel Tunnel today, each service could accommodate around 1,080 passengers.
The first of these trains are expected to join the fleet in January 2031, with commercial operations starting in May 2031. Six trains will start running at first, marking a new chapter for Eurostar. When the full Celestia fleet is delivered, it will join the existing 17 e320 trains, bringing the total to 67, around a 30% increase overall.
Eurostar plans to maintain the entire fleet at its Temple Mills depot in London, with the site undergoing an €80 million upgrade to accommodate the new trains. The project is expected to create roughly 350 skilled jobs, building on Temple Mills’ existing workforce of 450 and reinforcing its role as a centre of excellence in international high-speed rail.
Designed with sustainability and accessibility at the forefront, the all-electric Celestia trains incorporate feedback from passengers, accessibility groups, and Eurostar staff. “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” said Gwendoline Cazenave, CEO, Eurostar.
Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Chief Executive Officer of Alstom, added: “By choosing Avelia Horizon to renew its fleet, Eurostar is confirming its desire to combine technological performance, energy efficiency and passenger comfort. This new-generation train, designed to meet the demands of international very high-speed traffic, embodies our vision of sustainable and competitive European mobility,”
