Eurostar International Limited, the high-speed passenger
train operator between the UK and mainland Europe, has
today announced its plans for a £700 million capital
investment in its fleet. This represents the first key
initiative since the recent transformation of the
business from a partnership to a single, unified
corporate entity¹. The investment in the fleet will be
funded privately by Eurostar with a combination of cash
and bank financing.
From
2011, Eurostar will embark on a major programme of
investment in its rolling stock. This includes the
complete overhaul and refurbishment of the existing
fleet of Eurostar trains to a design created by
Pininfarina. In addition, Eurostar will purchase 10 new
trainsets which will complement its existing fleet and
ensure it can deliver the best possible service to its
passengers as it expands its operations.
Following completion of a competitive tender process,
Eurostar has advised the participants of its decision to
award the contract for the manufacture of new trainsets,
subject to negotiation of final terms, to the train
manufacturer, Siemens Plc.
Eurostar e320 – direct services to new destinations
Built to a bespoke specification, the new Eurostar e3202
trains will be ‘interoperable’. This means that they can
operate across the European high speed rail network and
can provide direct services between London and a range
of city centre destinations throughout Europe. With
capacity to carry more than 900 passengers, the Eurostar
e320 will have 20 per cent more seats than the existing
Eurostar trains which carry 750 travellers. Capable of a
speed of 320 kph (200 mph), the Eurostar e320 could see
journey times between London and Paris reduced to just
over two hours, London to Amsterdam to under four hours
and London to Geneva to around five hours.
Pininfarina redesign to deliver optimal comfort and
style
The interiors and external livery of both the e320 and
the upgraded existing fleet will be designed by
Pininfarina to a specification unique to Eurostar. This
design draws on extensive passenger feedback and
includes a number of innovative features that will
create an exceptional travel experience for customers.
In addition to offering a contemporary, stylish
environment in which passengers can work or relax, the
new Eurostar fleet will be equipped with the most
advanced wi-fi and on-board ‘info-tainment’ on any train
in Europe. This will include real-time travel and
destination information as well as interactive
entertainment including video-on-demand, music and
news-feeds.
New Eurostar trains designed to meet all Channel Tunnel
safety rules
At
400m long the Eurostar e320 trains are the optimal
length to take advantage of the tunnel’s unique,
in-built safety features and allow direct easy access to
the Eurotunnel service tunnel in the event of an
evacuation. The trains will also comply with all the
existing fire protection requirements of the Channel
Tunnel.
At a
media briefing the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt
Hon Philip Hammond MP and Nicolas Petrovic, Eurostar
Chief Executive, spoke about Eurostar’s plans for
investment and future expansion in an open access world.
This briefing was followed by a photocall in front of
the new Eurostar e320. Nicolas Petrovic, Chief Executive
of Eurostar, said: “Over the last 16 years Eurostar has
revolutionised travel between the London, Paris and
Brussels but our sights are now set on expanding our
business across Europe. The transformation of Eurostar
into a standalone business and the major capital
investment announced today is a mark of our growth
ambitions for the future. The combination of our new
state-of-the-art trains and our refurbished fleet will
assure our position as the leading rail operator between
the UK and the continent and make us the obvious choice
for short haul European travel."
