Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
eurostarthe one who walks trains Through channel tunnel From London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, say It will start double decker trains From May 2031.
These will be manufactured and branded by French manufacturer Alstom Eurostar CelestiaThe company has placed a firm order for 30, with options for 20 more. Trains will also run on Eurostar’s continental network Connecting the French, Belgian and Dutch capitals,
Eurostar services will accommodate 1,080 people, a 20 per cent increase on existing capacity. With the new trains, Eurostar aims to achieve an annual total of 30 million passengers across its network. In 2024, it will carry 19.5 million people.
Chief Executive Gwendolyn Cazenaway said Independent: “It’s about flexibility, increasing frequencies and expanding destinations. We will add three more daily frequencies to Paris, adding almost 2 million seats, and increase Amsterdam services from four to seven daily.
“We will also launch New direct services to Cologne, Frankfurt and GenevaWith three to four frequencies per day.
“All trains will serve all destinations. We will not assign specific trains to cross-Channel or continental routes.”
The rail company has announced a €2 billion (£1.74 billion) investment at a time when other companies are seeking to compete with Eurostar – which has held a monopoly on routes from London since 1994. In recent years, it has removed a number of stations from its network, including two in Kent, to focus on intercity connections.
These are the main questions and answers.
Are double decker trains unusual?
Double-decker trains are common for both local and high-speed rail services in continental Europe. But apart from a brief experiment in southeast London in the mid-20th century, they have not worked in Britain.
The British rail network has a much smaller “loading gauge” (essentially, a height limit for trains) than lines in mainland Europe. But High Speed One (HS1) – line from London channel tunnel – And the tunnel was designed to continental standards, and double-decker trains are perfectly practical.
What will the new Eurostar travel be like?
“Customers can expect a very special new train Eurostar CelestiaWhich will offer exceptional comfort, a unique Eurostar experience and new surprises to come,” said Ms Casseneuve.
“This is a golden age for international sustainability Travel – And Eurostar is leading the race.”
Trains will run at the same speed as now – with a better view from the top deck and a slightly worse view from the lower deck.
How is the market between London and continental Europe?
Anyone wanting to travel from London to Paris tomorrow has a number of options. Relative prices reflect Eurostar’s dominant market position.
Flixbus is £42. You can fly from Gatwick to Paris Orly or Luton to Paris Charles de Gaulle for £110. But the cheapest Eurostar journey available is £219. While fares on Eurostar are sometimes as low as £39 each way, train prices closer to departure are typically double those by plane – a reflection of the strong demand and limited supply of city-centre travel.
Increasing capacity should help drive down fares – especially if competition is allowed. From the passenger’s point of view, competition can only bring benefits in terms of more affordable tickets and better service.
Three companies are bidding to provide competition to Eurostar:
Elsewhere in Europe, particularly Italy and Spain, high-speed competition is intense.
So what’s holding you back?
Both the HS1 line and channel tunnel There is sufficient spare capacity. But an unusual hurdle to expansion is the lack of space to stable and maintain trains. Currently, Eurostar’s UK services are accommodated at Temple Mills depot in East London, which has limited space.
The Office of Rail and Road is expected to announce soon whether one of the three companies will be given access to Temple Mills. Eurostar has announced an expansion of the depot – insisting that the entire new fleet will be maintained there. The company argues that it is investing heavily in the UK, and needs to ensure a strong revenue stream to support the project.
Ms Casanave said: “When you invest €2 billion (£1.74 billion) and upgrade your depot at Temple Mills to maintain these new trains, you are investing in your industrial ecosystem. Temple Mills is central to this. We currently have 450 skilled staff, and with the new fleet, we will add around 350 more roles.”
Could new Channel Tunnel rail destinations open up?
Over the past few years, Eurostar has stopped running trains from London to Calais, disneyland parisBourg-Saint-Maurice, Lyon, Avignon and Marseille, opening services to Amsterdam and Rotterdam. It promises links with Cologne and Frankfurt in Germany, as well as Geneva, by the early 2030s.
Earlier this year, the tunnel’s French owner, Gatelink, and London St Pancras Highspeed, which owns the station and tunnel tracks in the capital, signed a memorandum of understanding to expand rail connectivity.
Getlink believes there is potential for services between London and places such as Bordeaux and Zurich.
Rival Trenitalia has said it could link London with Milan. But initially, any competition will be on the London-Paris route, by far the busiest and most profitable link.
Will Eurostar again serve stations in Kent?
For the people of Kent, the prospect of a direct link to the continent was dangled by HS1 in exchange for their county being built. New stations spanning the line were built at Ebbsfleet in northwest Kent and Ashford International in southeast Kent.
As of 2020, some Eurostar trains from London to Paris and Brussels call at them. Ebbsfleet was useful for the M25, providing good “park and ride” access; Ashford had excellent rail links to Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
Kent stations were quickly hit by the Covid pandemic, causing serious financial losses to Eurostar. While the cross-Channel passenger rail operator has been thriving for the past few years, Ebbsfleet and Ashford remain dormant.
In 2019, only one in 25 Eurostar passengers used Kent station; The remainder arrived at or departed from London St Pancras International.
Brexit has made reopening the county’s stations more challenging. Kent voted 59:41 in favor of leaving the European Union. But the decision to leave the European Union and subject to entry-exit system The complexity and cost of operating the French border required for passengers departing for the continent has increased rapidly.
Eurostar’s official line is: “Our Kent station will remain closed throughout 2025 and will be reviewed in 2026… If there are any changes, we will provide an update.” But chief executive Gwendolyn Cazenaway, I am talking to many timesHinted that Ebbsfleet and Ashford aren’t exactly at the top of his must-see list.
“We’re about from the center of the city to the center of the city,” she said.
Is there any possibility of competitors reviving Kent stations?
Yes. Last week Italian contender FS reported Independent He It is planned to serve Ashford en route to Paris. If it wins a “beauty contest” it will gain access to Temple Mills and be able to start trains from London.
During this time, mithun trains There are plans for trains to Paris to originate from Stratford International and call at Ebbsfleet, rather than London St Pancras International. The rail company has the support of Uber, which may improve its chances of being selected.
Read more: How to fix Britain’s trains: Experts call for more railcards, reservations and first class trains