Eurostar is planning significant expansions, adding new trains and routes to its high-speed rail network, indicating a robust growth strategy.
- The fleet size will see a considerable increase, with 50 new trains potentially joining the Eurostar line-up, enhancing capacity and connectivity.
- Eurostar is in active discussions to replace some of its older trains, aiming to boost its fleet from 51 to 67 units, reinforcing its commitment to rail infrastructure.
- New international routes from London’s current service to cities like Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels are under consideration, pointing to potential urban connectivity enhancements.
- Eurostar’s leadership is keen on swift train deliveries, emphasising the need to meet growing demand and the importance of timely executions in the competitive market.
Eurostar is setting its sights on substantial growth, focusing on expanding its high-speed rail network. This ambition translates into acquiring 50 new trains, a move that signals the company’s intent to augment its operational capacity significantly. With negotiations underway with train manufacturers, Eurostar is strategically planning to increase its fleet size by around a third, from 51 to 67 trains.
Chief Executive Gwendoline Cazenave elaborated on Eurostar’s plans to potentially open new routes from London to various European destinations, in addition to the existing routes to Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels. She outlined the company’s strategy, noting a strong market demand for Eurostar services, which bolsters the rationale for exploring new European connections.
A critical element of Eurostar’s expansion involves the delivery timeline of the new trains. According to Cazenave, the priority is to secure a manufacturer capable of expediently fulfilling the order to meet rising demand, indicating a competitive market environment that necessitates rapid adaptation and infrastructure scaling.
The formation of Eurostar Group through its merger with Thalys, which services countries such as France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, further underpins its growth trajectory. The merger stands as a strategic move to consolidate and enhance rail connectivity across Europe, leveraging shared resources and infrastructure.
Eurostar’s expansion plans come amid increased interest from other companies in launching services between the UK and Europe. The Channel Tunnel operator, Getlink, has reported serious interest from multiple firms, including the Virgin Group and the Dutch start-up Heuro, to utilise the tunnel’s capacity further, which currently supports about 400 trains daily against a potential of 1,000.
In anticipation of the new fleet, Eurostar is also preparing for infrastructural upgrades. Plans are in place to expand the terminal in Amsterdam and to redesign London’s St Pancras and Paris Gare du Nord stations, thereby accommodating more passengers as they navigate through new EU biometric border checks, ensuring efficiency and enhancing passenger experience.
Eurostar’s strategic expansion, with its new fleet and potential routes, marks a pivotal step in the enhancement of European rail connectivity.
