Eurostar has announced a landmark €2 billion investment in up to 50 new double-decker trains, described by the company as the “next generation” of its fleet.

Built by Alstom Group, the order for 30 trains with an option for 20 more, marks “a significant step in Eurostar’s growth journey to 30 million annual passengers.”

“Placing this milestone order marks the concrete realisation of Eurostar’s ambitious growth strategy,” CEO Gwendoline Cazenave said. “This is a golden age for international sustainable travel – and Eurostar is leading the race.”

The new fleet will be named Eurostar Celestia, with the name Celestia selected by members of the Eurostar team. Derived from the Latin word caelestis, meaning “heavenly”, the name aims to evoke “the stars and the essence of travel, perfectly capturing the spirit of a company that links a constellation of cities across Europe”, Eurostar said.

Each 200-metre train will offer around 540 seats – a 20% increase in capacity – with the possibility of running in 400-metre formation, offering around 1,080 seats per service. The first trains are due to join the fleet in January 2031, with commercial services launching in May 2031 with six new trains.

Once delivered, the new fleet will operate alongside Eurostar’s existing 17 e320 trains, bringing the total fleet to 67 trains – a 30% increase. Maintenance will continue at the Temple Mills depot in London, which will be upgraded at a cost of around €80m.

Eurostar emphasises that sustainability and accessibility are at the heart of the project. The all-electric Celestia trains will feature 97% recyclable components, with 25% made from recycled materials, and deliver energy savings of 20–50% more than the current fleet.

“This new-generation train… embodies our vision of sustainable and competitive European mobility,” CEO of Alstom Henri Poupart-Lafarge said.