Reviewed by our editorial team Updated
Published: 22 October 2025
By Rupert the Reindeer, AppSavvyTraveller Editorial Team
Eurostar has announced a landmark €2 billion (£1.7bn / $2.3bn) fleet investment in a new generation of double-decker high-speed trains built by Alstom, the first of their kind to operate through the Channel Tunnel and on the UK rail network. The two figures quoted around this deal cover different things: the €2 billion (£1.7bn / $2.3bn) is Eurostar’s own total investment in the new fleet, while the train-building contract awarded to Alstom is worth close to €1.4 billion (£1.2bn / $1.6bn). A further €80 million (£69m / $92m) is earmarked separately for the Temple Mills depot.
The new fleet, named Eurostar Celestia, will enter service in 2031 and marks the most significant upgrade in the operator’s 30-year history. Thirty trains have been ordered, with an option for twenty more, supporting Eurostar’s goal to carry 30 million passengers annually.
A New Era for High-Speed European Travel
Celestia will be based on Alstom’s Avelia Horizon platform, a proven double-decker design adapted specifically for Eurostar’s cross-border routes. The manufacturer set out the fleet specification in its announcement of the Eurostar Avelia Horizon order. Each 200-metre set will seat around 540 passengers, with the possibility of pairing two units to form 400-metre services of approximately 1,080 seats.
The first six trains are due to debut in May 2031, serving existing Eurostar destinations in the UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and expanding to Geneva and Frankfurt.
Eurostar says the Celestia design will deliver a 20 percent boost in capacity, a 30 percent larger overall fleet, and a striking new passenger experience inspired by the night sky. The name “Celestia” comes from the Latin caelestis, meaning “heavenly.”
Sustainability and Accessibility at the Core
The Celestia trains will be 97 percent recyclable and built using 25 percent recycled materials. They promise 20–50 percent lower energy use than current models and are designed to cope with the changing European climate.
Sustainability extends beyond energy savings. Eurostar confirmed plans to expand its Temple Mills depot in London, creating 350 skilled engineering jobs and ensuring maintenance remains in the UK.
Accessibility has been built in from the earliest design stages, with input from passenger groups and more than 100 Eurostar employees to ensure barrier-free travel throughout.
Voices from Eurostar and Alstom
Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave presented the order as the point at which the operator’s growth strategy becomes real:
“Placing this milestone order marks the concrete realisation of Eurostar’s ambitious growth strategy – to reach 30 million passengers by investing in a brand-new fleet. We’re particularly proud to bring double-decker trains to the UK for the very first time.”
On what passengers will actually notice on board, she added:
“Customers can expect a very special new train with Eurostar Celestia, which will offer exceptional comfort, a unique Eurostar experience and new surprises to be revealed. This is a golden age for international sustainable travel, and Eurostar is leading the race.”
Alstom’s CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge added:
“By choosing Avelia Horizon to renew its fleet, Eurostar is confirming its desire to combine technological performance, energy efficiency and passenger comfort. This new-generation train, designed to meet the demands of international very high-speed traffic, embodies our vision of sustainable and competitive European mobility.”
Connecting Travellers through Technology
For passengers, Celestia will be more than a new train: it will redefine the digital onboard experience. The fleet will feature next-generation Wi-Fi, improved real-time journey information, and expanded connectivity options for work or leisure.
Travellers can already follow Eurostar’s progress and manage journeys directly through the Eurostar App, which offers mobile boarding passes, seat maps, and live service updates.
App availability and prices vary by country. Some of these may not appear in your local App Store or Google Play.
What This Means for Travellers
For Eurostar passengers, Celestia represents a clear shift toward sustainable, high-capacity rail linking major European cities. With expanded routes to Switzerland and Germany, it also positions Eurostar as a viable alternative to short-haul flights.
The double-deck format promises quieter rides, larger luggage space, and new comfort classes tailored for leisure and business travellers alike. Importantly, the investment signals Eurostar’s long-term confidence in international rail despite challenging years for the sector.
With the first trains entering service in 2031, travellers can look forward to an entirely new cross-Channel experience: greener, roomier, and faster than ever before.
Further Reading & Related App Guides
Want to explore smart ways to travel across Europe? These guides will help you plan seamless, app-connected journeys from station to city centre.
If Celestia has you thinking about a wider European rail trip, our Eurostar Guide covers routes, stations and booking tips for the existing fleet, while the Interrail Europe Pass Guide explains how to combine Eurostar with flexible multi-country tickets if you want to keep travelling beyond London, Paris or Brussels.
Once you’re ready to book, our Train Booking Apps Guide compares the platforms worth having on your phone for comparing fares and reserving seats across Europe, and the Local Transport Apps Guide can help you navigate each city with ease once you step off the train.
Finally, staying connected wherever you land matters just as much as getting there. Our eSIM Apps Guide rounds up the best ways to stay online with affordable data as you move between countries.
