Eurostar Celestia: The Next Generation of Sustainable Double-Decker High-Speed Trains

Eurostar has announced a landmark €2 billion investment in Eurostar Celestia, a new generation of double-decker high-speed trains built by Alstom Group—the first of their kind to operate through the Channel Tunnel and across the UK network. The company has placed a firm order for 30 trains, with an option for 20 more, supporting its ambitious plan to carry 30 million passengers annually. Based on Alstom’s Avelia Horizon platform, each 200-metre train will be fully interoperable across all five countries currently served by Eurostar, as well as new destinations such as Geneva and Frankfurt. With a 20 percent increase in seat capacity, each train will accommodate around 540 passengers—or 1,080 in double formation—bringing Eurostar’s fleet to 67 trains by 2031, a 30 percent increase overall.

The Eurostar Celestia design combines technical innovation with an elevated passenger experience, reflecting the brand’s premium positioning. The fleet’s name—derived from the Latin caelestis (“heavenly”)—symbolises connection, travel, and the constellation of European cities Eurostar serves. The first trains are expected to enter commercial service in May 2031, following initial deliveries in January of that year. To support the expansion, Eurostar will invest €80 million in redeveloping its Temple Mills depot in London, creating approximately 350 new skilled jobs and cementing the site’s role as a hub for international high-speed rail maintenance and innovation. Over half of Eurostar’s total workforce is already UK-based, with 450 employees currently stationed at the depot.

Sustainability and accessibility are central to Celestia’s design. The all-electric fleet will be Eurostar’s most sustainable yet—constructed from 97 percent recyclable components and 25 percent recycled materials, delivering 20–50 percent energy savings compared to the current fleet. The trains are engineered to withstand the effects of climate change, ensuring long-term operational resilience. Their interiors and boarding systems have been co-designed with accessibility groups and Eurostar staff to offer inclusive comfort for all travelers. According to Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave, this project represents a “golden age for international sustainable travel,” while Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge emphasized that Avelia Horizon trains combine “technological performance, energy efficiency, and passenger comfort,” embodying the next era of sustainable European mobility.