21.07.15
New Eurostar e320s in final testing stage
Eurostar reported that its new fleet of e320 trains is now in the final stage of testing, ahead of their scheduled launch at the end of this year.
The operator is also carrying out a complete overhaul of its existing fleet after buying 17 new e320 trains and redesigning its current e300 model (pictured above and below).
The recently remodelled and redesigned train from the existing fleet, named the e300 after its capacity to travel up to 300kph, will enter commercial service in the coming weeks. Similarly the e320 will top the current fleet by travelling up to 320kph.
Interior shot from a refreshed Class 373 / e300
The new Class 374 trains, dubbed e320 by Eurostar (pictured below) and built by Siemens at Krefeld , have increased seat capacity and a new livery and interiors created by the Italian design house Pininfarina. They offer wi-fi connectivity and advanced passenger information services aimed at “improving and transforming the travel experience”, Eurostar said. They are a variant on the Velaro design, popular across Europe.
Above: Class 374 / e320
The total bill for buying the 17 new trains and refurbishing the existing fleet is about £1bn.
Eurostar carried a record number of passengers during the second quarter of this year. There were over 2.8 million people travelling between the UK and the continent, representing a 3% increase compared with the same period last year. The number of business travellers also rose by 10% and sales revenues grew despite terrorist attacks and a Eurotunnel lorry fire in the beginning of the year.
The second quarter also saw the introduction of Eurostar’s new all-year round direct service to the south of France launched on 1 May, which runs between London and Lyon and Avignon and Marseille.
Nicolas Petrovic, chief executive of Eurostar, said: “Over the last three months we have carried more passengers than in any other quarter. With demand for our services at an all-time high, we are looking forward to the arrival of our new trains.
“The combination of state-of-the-art design, unrivalled comfort and 20% extra seats means that we are well placed to meet the growing demand as passengers increasingly opt for high-speed rail over plane.”
Images show recently remodelled e300 train due in service in the coming weeks.