Eurostar to launch double-decker trains and new routes
New trains and services aim to increase capacity and reach across continental Europe.
Trust 40Craft 60Hype 40How this was reported ▾
The central claim is attributed to Eurostar and Virgin Trains, but lacks direct quotes or named individuals.
How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
The article clearly separates facts from speculation and provides specific dates and route details.
Context, balance and separation of fact from comment. Higher is better.
The headline is lively but the article provides detailed information about future services.
How far presentation runs ahead of substance. Lower is better.
1 source assessed · methodology
Eurostar is preparing to significantly expand its services and capacity, with the introduction of double-decker trains and new direct routes to continental Europe. The company has ordered 30 new 'Celestia' trains, which will be the first double-decker services to operate through the Channel Tunnel. These trains will offer an increased seating capacity, with each service able to carry around 1,080 passengers, a rise of approximately 20% compared to current services. The introduction of these new trains is expected to commence from May 2031.
New Direct Services Planned
Virgin Trains wins approval for 20 daily London-Paris return services from 2030
Office of Rail and Road grants track access for decade-long Channel Tunnel operations, but safety and network deals still needed
In addition to the new trains, Eurostar will launch direct services from London to Antwerp on December 13, 2026. This new route is expected to reduce journey times to Antwerp to approximately two hours and 41 minutes, compared to the current journey involving a change in Brussels. However, direct services from Antwerp to London will not be possible due to border control requirements at Antwerp Central station.
Looking further ahead, Eurostar has announced plans for a direct route from London to Frankfurt, Germany, with a projected launch in the early 2030s. This would mark the first direct service to Germany offered by Eurostar. The company is also exploring direct links to Switzerland, with potential routes to Geneva, Zurich, and Basel being considered for implementation during the 2030s. These Swiss routes are being developed in collaboration with SBB, the Swiss national railway operator, and SNCF Voyageurs, the French passenger rail operator.
Virgin Trains Enters the Market
Virgin Trains to run London-Paris trains from 2030, ending Eurostar monopoly
Office of Rail and Road approves 20 daily return services from St Pancras to three European cities
The landscape of cross-Channel rail travel is set to change with Virgin Trains also planning to operate services. In August 2026, Virgin Trains was granted access to UK tracks, with the intention of launching rival services to Eurostar. The company has secured an agreement for track access between October 2030 and December 2040. Initially, Virgin Trains proposes to run 20 daily return services between London St Pancras and Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. While Virgin Trains has approval for UK track usage, it still requires further permissions to operate in mainland Europe and use the Channel Tunnel itself. If all approvals are secured, Virgin Trains could begin operating by 2030, ending Eurostar's long-standing monopoly on passenger services through the tunnel.
Fleet Expansion and Future Prospects
The addition of the 'Celestia' trains will bring Eurostar's total fleet to 67 trains. The company ordered 30 of the new double-decker trains, with an option for an additional 20. These trains are 200 metres long and each have 540 seats. When formed into the usual 400-metre services, they will offer a substantial increase in passenger capacity. While the introduction of new transport infrastructure projects can sometimes face delays, Eurostar anticipates these trains will serve all its destinations once operational. Previous direct routes to Lyon, Marseille, and Avignon were discontinued due to insufficient demand in recent years.
Questions this report answers
+When will Eurostar introduce its double-decker trains?
Eurostar plans to introduce its new double-decker trains, known as 'Celestia', into service from May 2031. These trains will significantly increase seating capacity on its routes.
+What new direct routes will Eurostar offer?
Direct Eurostar services from London to Antwerp will begin on December 13, 2026. New direct routes to Frankfurt are planned for the early 2030s, with potential services to Geneva, Zurich, and Basel also being considered for the 2030s.
+When is Virgin Trains expected to start services to mainland Europe?
Virgin Trains has secured track access for UK routes and aims to begin operating services to mainland Europe by 2030, provided all necessary permissions are obtained.
+How will the new Eurostar trains increase capacity?
The new 'Celestia' trains are double-decker and will increase the seating capacity of Eurostar services by approximately 20%. In their usual 400-metre formation, each service will carry around 1,080 passengers.
WE FILE
No invented reporter. No hidden source trail.
The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
More Coverage in Tube & Rail
Virgin Trains wins approval for 20 daily London-Paris return services from 2030
Virgin Trains to run London-Paris trains from 2030, ending Eurostar monopoly
Piccadilly Line Faces Weekend Closure for Train Upgrades
