30.05.17
Eurostar introduces new e320 trains on London-Brussels route
Eurostar has this week started running its new e320 trains on the London-Brussels route as part of the company’s £1bn programme of investment.
A total of 17 new e320s will be introduced to Eurostar’s fleet over the next 18 months, and the operator will also undertake a refurbishment of its original trains.
The new rolling stock has already been running on the London-Paris route since November 2015, and boasts a 20% increase in capacity compared to the original Eurostar trains. They also offer passengers modern interiors, wi-fi connectivity and onboard entertainment to smart devices like phones and tablets.
The introduction of the e320 on the London-Brussels route follows a renovation of the Eurostar terminal in Brussels Midi, which has expanded the departure area and improved the efficiency of the check-in space with state-of-the-art technology like facial recognition e-passport gates that will be brought in this summer to ease pressure during busy periods.
Nicolas Petrovic, chief executive of Eurostar, commented: “The introduction of the e320 on the Brussels route marks an important milestone and step change in the travel experience for our customers.”
The addition of the e320s will also aid Eurostar as it expands further into Europe. As they are interoperable, the trains can run on the European high-speed network and will allow the company to develop quicker, more direct links to Amsterdam.
With over three million passengers travelling by air between London and Amsterdam, a new rail route to Amsterdam will greatly enhance links to the Netherlands and boost the economies of either company.
“With demand for high-speed rail over plane on the increase, we are now gearing up to expand our reach to Amsterdam and Rotterdam,” Petrovic added. “The launch of our new direct service on this high-volume route represents a major growth opportunity for our business.”
And Michel Jadot, director of marketing and sales at SNCB, said that the improvement to trains was the result of efforts to revamp the Channel Terminal into a bigger and brighter check-in area.
“The capacity has increased, matching the new trains on the Brussels-London route, which are able to transport more passengers,” he stated.
“Special attention was dedicated to improving the customer flow with the new, larger check-in structure of the terminal offering far more easy access. These efforts will also help to reinforce the role Brussels enjoys as a major European railway hub.”
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