Of the five companies with intentions to operate on the high-speed line through the Channel Tunnel, only Eurostar – which has had the monopoly for the past 30 years – has put in an order for new trains for use on the London St Pancras Highspeed line.

Its order of 30 Alstom Avelia Horizon trains means that it would be the first time double-deckers have operated from London to the continent under the Channel. The 200m trains will enter service from May 2031.

Replacing an ageing Thalys fleet

However, independent railway commentator Jon Worth cautions that this order could be deployed elsewhere on the network. Eurostar stated its intention to order up to 50 new trains in May 2024, which would “eventually operate alongside Eurostar’s current fleet of 17 e320s, providing a total fleet of

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