Eurostar’s New Trains Are Getting a Two-Storey Bar
Eurostar has revealed another detail of its future Celestia fleet, which is due to enter commercial service from May 2031. The double-decker trains are already set to bring more seats and new international routes, but the latest onboard feature is aimed less at speed and more at how passengers spend the journey. The new feature will also be open to all passengers rather than restricted to a particular travel class.
The standout addition is a two-storey cocktail bar, which Eurostar says will be open to everyone on board. The operator is positioning it as one of Celestia’s main onboard features rather than an upgrade reserved for its highest-paying customers. The bar will occupy two levels of the double-decker train, making it one of the more unusual features planned for the new fleet.
What Eurostar Has Confirmed So Far
- Launch: first commercial services planned for May 2031.
- Fleet: 30 Celestia trains ordered, with an option for 20 more.
- Bar: two storeys and open to all passengers.
- Capacity: around 540 seats per 200-metre train, subject to final specifications.
- Climate: air-conditioning designed to operate in temperatures up to 55°C.
- New routes planned: London–Geneva, London–Frankfurt and Amsterdam/Brussels–Geneva.
- Fares: not yet announced.
Celestia is also planned for new direct services linking London with Geneva and Frankfurt. At present, a London–Geneva rail journey normally requires a change in Paris, while trips to Frankfurt also involve a connection. Eurostar has not yet published final timetables, journey times or fares for the new direct routes, so there is still no way to compare their cost or speed with today’s options.
Anyone tempted by the bar will have a long wait. Celestia tickets are not on sale, and Eurostar has yet to publish final fares or schedules for Geneva and Frankfurt. One useful detail is already clear: the two-storey bar will not be limited to Premier passengers. Eurostar says it will be open to everyone on board when the new trains begin running in 2031.