Introducing Eurostar Celestia
posted on 22nd Oct 2025 10:14
On 22 October 2025 Eurostar announced a landmark 2 billion EUR investment in up to 50 new double-decker trains built by Alstom - the first ever to operate through the Channel Tunnel and on the UK network. Eurostar has confirmed an order for 30 trains (for close to 1.4 billion EUR), with an option for a further 20, marking a significant step in Eurostar’s growth journey to 30 million annual passengers.
The new fleet, named Eurostar Celestia will be a bespoke design created from Alstom’s Avelia Horizon platform. The trains will be interoperable across all five countries served today plus new destinations of Geneva and Frankfurt. The name of the fleet, selected by members of the Eurostar team, is derived from the Latin word caelestis, meaning “heavenly”. It evokes the stars and the essence of travel, perfectly capturing the spirit of a company that links a constellation of cities across Europe.
Seat capacity will increase by 20 % on each new train, subject to final design specifications. It is expected that each 200-metre unit with two power cars and nine intermediate double-deck cars will have around 540 seats. If running in 40 0m formation (as through the Channel tunnel today), there would be around 1,080 seats per service. The design process includes input from passenger and accessibility groups, as well as 100 Eurostar team members.
This third optional tranche of the framework contract between SNCF Voyageurs and Alstom adds to the 115 trains already ordered by SNCF Voyageurs, including 100 for commercial operation in France and 15 for commercial operation in Europe.
The first Celestia trains are due to join the fleet in January 2031, with commercial services launching in May 2031. Six new units will be operational at that time, marking the beginning of a new era for Eurostar and its customers on board Eurostar Celestia. Once delivered, the new trains will operate alongside Eurostar’s current fleet of 17 e320s, bringing the total fleet to 67 trains - a 30 % uplift overall versus today.
Eurostar plans to maintain the entire fleet at the Temple Mills depot in London, which would be developed to accommodate the new trains at a cost of around 80 million EUR. The new fleet will create around 350 more highly skilled jobs at the depot, continuing its heritage as a centre of excellence for international high-speed rail. Today, over half of all Eurostar jobs are already UK-based, with 450 of those based at Temple Mills.