Train travel across the Channel and beyond is about to get a lot more glamorous — but you'll need patience. Eurostar has revealed that its next fleet of trains, named Celestia, will feature two-storey bars on board, and they won't arrive until May 2031.
The double-decker bars are the headline feature of the new trains, and Eurostar says they'll be open to all passengers regardless of ticket class. The operator is calling them the star attraction, with a spokesperson explaining that the name Celestia — meaning 'heavenly' — reflects the ambition of creating a travel experience beyond the ordinary. Picture climbing a staircase mid-journey to a separate upper level just for drinks: a first for the high-speed cross-Channel operator.
The bars are part of a bigger order. Eurostar has commissioned 30 Celestia trains, and when the first ones enter service in May 2031, six will be running across the entire existing network — so London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam — plus two new destinations: Geneva and Frankfurt. That's a meaningful expansion for anyone who'd rather take the train than fly within Europe.
There's a practical side to the announcement too. After the record heatwaves that scorched Europe this summer, Eurostar has confirmed the new trains will carry air conditioning capable of working in temperatures up to 55°C. Given that the fleet will stay in service into the 2060s, the company says it's designing for the climate of the future, not just today's. Anyone who has sweated through a delayed summer departure will appreciate that detail.
Why should travellers care? The Celestia rollout essentially signals what cross-European rail will look like for the next three decades: more seats, more destinations, and an onboard experience that borrows more from a boutique hotel than a commute. The Geneva and Frankfurt additions are particularly good news for rail fans — Frankfurt opens up direct high-speed links deep into Germany, while Geneva puts the Swiss Alps within easy rail reach from London. The catch is the timeline: 2031 is a long way off, so for now the double-decker bar remains something to look forward to rather than book.
If you're planning European rail trips in the meantime, the current Eurostar network already connects London with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, with onward high-speed connections across the continent. The Celestia fleet just gives you one more reason to keep choosing the train over the plane.
Story via Euronews Travel.