Plans to operate double-decker trains through the Channel Tunnel for the first time have been made public by Eurostar. In order to expand its fleet by almost a third, the cross-channel rail operator has confirmed that it will acquire up to 50 trains from Alstom, the manufacturer. It stated that a significant investment in a vital London depot would be part of the growth plans. However, there are also concerns over whether there is enough room for Eurostar and other competitors to use the facility.
Eurostar has purchased 30 “Celestia” trains, with the option for 20 more, as part of the €2 billion (£1.74 billion) contract that was confirmed on Wednesday. In 2031, Eurostar anticipates using the first six trains. The length of each train would be 200m. There would be roughly 1,080 seats in the 400-meter service that would result from running two simultaneously, as is currently the case.
These would be the first double-decker high-speed trains to go through the Channel Tunnel. An experiment that started in 1949 was the only other double-decker passenger service to ever run on British railways. “I am especially proud to bring double-decker trains to the UK for the very first time,” said Gwendoline Cazenave, chief executive of Eurostar, who also said that they would provide “exceptional comfort.”
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