Eurostar's €2 Billion Double-Decker Train Plan Could Transform Trips to Disneyland Paris
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Riding the Magic
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Eurostar has announced a €2 billion investment to introduce double-decker “Celestia” trains through the Channel Tunnel. It’s an announcement that could make future journeys to Disneyland Paris faster, greener, and roomier than before. But before you get too excited, it’s a development that’s over 5 years away!
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What’s Happening?
30 new two-storey Celestia trains have been ordered from Alstom with an option for 20 more. They’ll be the first double-decker trains to run through the channel tunnel and are scheduled to begin service in May 2031.
The new trains will have a capacity of around 1,080 seats which is about 20% more than today’s trains. The launch in May 2031 will see 6 new trains join the fleet, bringing the total to 67.
The increased capacity will bring new routes to Geneva and Frankfurt as well as adding capacity to the London, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam routes.
Describing the new fleet of Celestia trains, Gwendoline Cazenave, CEO of Eurostar said:
"Customers can expect a very special new train with Eurostar Celestia, which will offer exceptional comfort, a unique Eurostar experience and new surprises to be revealed."
Why It Matters For UK Disneyland Paris Visitors
For UK visitors heading to Disneyland Paris increased capacity on the Euro Star Paris line is good news and here’s why:
More seats and a modern design for comfy travel,
Trains will be made of 25% recycled materials
Greater availability during peak travel times and school holidays
At the same time, there is another interesting development happening.
By the time Eurostar bring out the trains, there could well be competition from other services as the Euro Tunnel route is no longer going to be exclusive. With Italian operator FS Group and Virgin Group signalling plans to launch their own high-speed cross-Channel services before the end of the decade, these improvements may be necessary to keep customers.
Competition could also see fare prices decrease and new routes to Paris and beyond emerge. Perhaps even the direct train to Marne-la-Vallee-Chessy, the station right outside Disneyland Pairs may return.
Our Thoughts
For now nothing is changing. These developments are some way off but worth knowing about for planning future trips to Disney Paris. Crossing the Channel Tunnel using Eurostar is definitely going to change, but no time soon. The planned upgrades and competition may however make trips more affordable for UK visitors who prefer rail travel to Paris over ferry or air.
Magic In A Minute
Eurostar’s next generation double-deckers could make reaching Disneyland Paris smoother, greener, and cheaper, ushering in a new era of magical rail travel from the UK.