Service would follow acquisition of new equipment, but could face issues over servicing facility
Eurostar trains wait at London St. Pancras station on Nov. 18, 2023. The company has announced plans to expand its fleet and offer service on new routes. Keith Fender
LONDON — High speed rail operator Eurostar, facing the prospect of competition from across Europe through the Channel Tunnel, has announced plans for new services of its own.
But not soon.
The company announced this week that it plans to launch three new routes in “the early 2030s” — London-Frankfurt, London-Geneva, and Amsterdam/Brussels-Geneva — once it adds 50 new trains to its fleet. The company says it will spend approximately €2 billion ($2.3 billion) on the trains, which have yet to be ordered. Currently, Eurostar has 17 trainsets.
“We’re seeing strong demand for train travel across Europe, with customers wanting to go further by rail than ever before and enjoy the unique experience we provide,” Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave said in a press release. “Despite the challenging economic climate, Eurostar is growing and has bold ambitions for the future. Our new fleet will make new destinations for customers a reality — notably direct trains between London and Germany, and between London and Switzerland for the first time.”
The announcement came as Eurostar released its 2024 financial results, which saw the company post earnings (before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) of €346 million ($397.1 million) while carrying more than 19.5 million passengers, a 5% increase over the previous year. The planned expansion will help the company reach its target of carrying 30 million passengers annually.
The BBC reports, however, that the Eurostar’s plans must clear a governmental hurdle. Infrastructure between the Channel Tunnel and London St. Pancras station — the only English route capable of handling larger European high-speed equipment — is owned by the government organization London St. Pancras Highspeed. That includes the Temple Mills yard and shops in East London. With several companies proposing service on that route [see “Eurostar facing competition …,” Trains News Wire, April 17, 2025], the government Office of Rail and Road is reviewing all proposals, including Eurostar’s, to see who gets to use the facilities. The ORR has already said there is not enough space at Temple Mills to accommodate both an expanded Eurostar fleet and those of rival operators. It plans to decide who gets to use the space by the end of October.