Eurostar has signalled expansion of its high speed network across Europe with a £700 million overhaul of existing trains and the addition of new rolling stock.
The refurbishment by the high speed Channel Tunnel passenger rail company’s existing trains will start next year. Eurostar will also purchase 10 new trains to complement its existing fleet.
The new Eurostar e3202 trains will be able to operate across the European high speed rail network and provide direct services between London and city centre destinations throughout Europe.
With capacity of more than 900 passengers including their luggage, the Eurostar e320 will have 20% more seats than existing Eurostar trains introduced in 1994 which carry 750 travellers.
Capable of a speed of 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.
Eurostar chief executive Nicolas Petrovic 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 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.”