- Eurostar has carried 400 million passengers since launching in 1994.
- 2025 was a record year: 20 million passengers, up by 500,000.
- Fastest-growing routes in 2025 include:
- London–Amsterdam (+18.3%)
- Germany–London via Brussels (+10%)
- Germany–Paris (+5.3%)
- London–Paris (+5%)
- Brussels–Paris (+3.7%)
- Eurostar announced a €2 billion investment (Oct 2025) in up to 50 “Eurostar Celestia” trains built by Alstom.
- First order placed: 30 double-decker trains, with options for 20 more.
- First Celestia trains expected from 2031, with ~20% higher capacity.
- Planned new direct routes include Frankfurt–London, London–Geneva, Amsterdam–Geneva, and Brussels–Geneva.
Eurostar has reached a milestone that feels almost absurdly European: 400 million passengers carried since the service began in 1994.
That is 400 million people choosing the train to cross borders that once demanded stamps, delays, and the kind of airport misery that can age a person psychologically by five years in one afternoon.
And the number matters because it arrives right after Eurostar’s strongest year yet: 2025, when the company carried 20 million passengers, up by 500,000 — proof that demand for international rail is still climbing, for both leisure travel and business movement.
Eurostar’s network spans five countries—the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany—connecting major cities while positioning itself as the cleaner, calmer alternative to short-haul flights.
“Welcoming 400 million people on board Eurostar is an incredible moment… Another year of growth with 20 million passengers motivates us to do even more… especially as we expand into new countries and introduce our new Celestia fleet,” said Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave.
The Routes That Grew the Fastest in 2025
Not all lines grow equally. According to Eurostar’s numbers, the biggest percentage jumps in 2025 were:
- London–Amsterdam (+18.3%)
- Germany–London (via Brussels) (+10%)
- Germany–Paris (+5.3%)
- London–Paris (+5%)
- Brussels–Paris (+3.7%)
London–Amsterdam is the standout here: almost 20% growth — a signal that travelers are voting with their feet for rail over air, especially on routes where airports deliver maximum chaos and minimum joy.
€2 Billion for New Trains and New Direct Routes
The big move came in October 2025, when Eurostar announced a €2 billion investment in a brand-new fleet: up to 50 Eurostar Celestia trains, built by Alstom.
The first order is already placed: 30 double-decker trains, with options for 20 more.
The detail that should make the rail nerds smile: Celestia will be the first double-decker train fleet operating through the Channel Tunnel and on the UK rail network.
Each train will offer around 20% more capacity, with the first arrivals expected from 2031.
And yes, it is a long wait — but this is rail. Real rail thinks in decades, not quarters.
The New Routes Eurostar Wants to Unlock
Celestia is not just a capacity upgrade. It is a map rewrite.
New direct routes planned include:
- Frankfurt–London
- London–Geneva
- Amsterdam–Geneva
- Brussels–Geneva
This is where the future gets interesting: direct long-haul rail across Europe without forcing passengers into complicated transfers.
In travel terms, this is not a “nice option.” This is a shift in how Europeans will move.
The Soft Stuff That Still Matters: Uniforms, Autism Inclusion
Eurostar also spent 2025 improving the human side of the system.
Two notable initiatives:
- New uniforms launched October 2025 (first redesign in over a decade), worn by 2,600+ employees, designed by Emmanuelle Plescoff, with a focus on inclusivity and sustainability.
- In April 2025, Eurostar signed a charter committing to better inclusion for autistic travelers, including clearer information, sensory-sensitive guidance, and improved staff training.
That might sound minor compared to multi-billion Euro fleets, but modern travel wins or loses on these details. Especially with Gen Z and families: people remember how they were treated, not just how fast they arrived.
