Eurostar is to hold a special unveiling event at St Pancras International station next month to show off its new high-speed e320 train.
The launch event on November 13 will be the train’s first public appearance since the order was first announced four years ago.
Eurostar awarded Siemens a £550 million contract to build 10 new trains for the cross-channel operator in 2010. Delivery of the new trains was delayed from 2014 to 2015 and the project faced legal opposition from Alstom, which was eventually dropped in 2012.
The new trains are intended to expand Eurostar’s international services. The current fleet does not comply with European interoperability standards and is restricted to running a service between the UK, France and Belgium. The new Eurostar e320 sets will be able to operate to Amsterdam, Cologne (Köln) and other continental destinations.
Eurostar chief executive Nicolas Petrovic said: “Over the next two years our customers will see a complete transformation of our service as we upgrade and enhance every stage of the passenger journey.
“By making a substantial investment in our fleet, we are sending a strong signal about the ambition for the business and our commitment to delivering an exceptional experience for our passengers.”
Earlier this week, Eurostar celebrated 10 consecutive years of growth, with passenger numbers and revenues continuing to rise in the third quarter of 2014.
Where exactly will this take place? What time? Open to the public or just press? Will the train be on display for some time or just in and out?
Peter: We understand this is a press event. A pity as there would surely be considerable wider interest beyond the press in getting a glimpse of the new e320. From what we hear the trains will have a very different feel from the current Eurostar stock.
Nicky Gardner
co-editor of hidden europe magazine and European Rail News
http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk and http://www.europebyrail.eu/european-rail-news
I might try and get there to see it arrive from the southeastern platforms, that would be awesome.
Thanks for that. Yes, a pity as I’m sure there would be a lot of interest. I work as a Tour Manager for Great Rail Journeys who run hundreds of tours a year from St Pancras. We would be very interested, not just for ourselves but to be able to pass on information to clients, but I bet no-one from GRJ has been invited.
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Siemens could build more Eurostar e320’s (Class 374’s) 16-car trains to replace & cascade the Class 373’s to be used on the East Coast Main Line (11/12-car). These new trains could also extend new services such as London to Berlin, London to Andorra, London to Amsterdam, London to Rome, London to Warsaw & Across Europe and to Copenhagen to/from London St Pancras International.
Information provided in this page is useful and informative.One more fastest train is going to added in United Kingdom railway.Eurostar e320, it is scheduled to start operation in late 2015 and it is a high-speed train and it will be run on the London-Paris-Brussels line .It is capable of carrying more than 900 passengers as a result of the 20% capacity boost given to it.It’s propulsion system and technical modules are distributed under the floor.Wow…so UK railway system is getting more powerful and speedy…