Eurostar will launch its double-deck Celestia train fleet in May 2031, featuring cocktail bars open to all ticket classes. This move is part of a €2 billion investment to upgrade capacity and climate resilience across its European network.
The 20% capacity boost of the Alstom-built Celestia
The upcoming Celestia fleet represents a significant engineering shift for Eurostar. According to the report, these trains will feature double-deck monocoque bodies manufactured by the Paris-based firm Alstom. These new units will sit approximately 16 centimetres higher than the 17 existing single-deck e320 Siemens units, providing a 20 per cent increase in passenger capacity.
Eurostar plans to initially deploy 30 of these railcars on the Channel tunnel starting in 2031, with an option to secure an additional 20 units to handle future growth. the company has set an ambitious target of reaching 30 millioon passengers per year, necessitating this expansion of the physical fleet to maintain its dominance in cross-border rail.
Virgin Trains and Trenitalia's 2029-2030 market entry
The timing of the Celestia rollout is a direct response to a crumbling monopoly. as the report notes, the Office of Rail and Road has granted a track-access licence to Virgin Trains, which intends to launch up to 20 daily international return trips between London and cities like Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam by the end of 2030.
Furthermore, Trenitalia is preparring a potential Paris-London service as early as 2029. The Italian operator has already invested in 19 high-speed units and established a maintenance hub near Paris. By introducing the Celestia fleet,Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave is attempting to shift the competition from mere transit to a "travel experience," using high-end amenities to retain loyalty before these rivals fully mobilize.
AC systems built for 55°C European summers
Beyond the luxury of cocktail bars, the Celestia trains are being designed for a warming planet. The fleet will be equipped with state-of-the-art air-conditioning systems capable of operating in temperatures reaching 55°C . this technical specification is a pragmatic response to the increasingly severe heatwaves seen across Europe in recent years.
This climate-resilient approach is part of a broader €2 billion investment in electrified network expansion. Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge described the project as a move toward "sustainable and competitive European mobility ," positioning the double-deckers as the first of their kind to navigate the Channel tunnel while maintaining high environmental standards.
The missing price list for 'accessible' cocktails
While Eurostar emphasizes that cocktail bars on both decks will be available to all passengers regardless of ticket class, several details remain unverified. The report mentions that these drinks will lack the "brand-name cost" of the Premier lounge, but it does not provide a specific pricing structure or a sample menu.
It remains unclear whether these "accessible" drinks will be subsidized to attract passengers or if they will simply be priced lower than the existing luxury tier. Additionally, while the report highlights the "family-friendly" nature of the new bars, it does not specify how Eurostar will manage the balance between a cocktail environment and a family-oriented atmosphere on a crowded double-decker train.
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