On Thursday, the company
unveiled its new e320 train at London's St. Pancras Station. The new
train will go into commercial service at the end of 2015. The e320 is
named for its max speed -- 320 kilometers per hour (200 mph).
"Over the last twenty
years, we have led the way in cross-Channel high speed rail travel,
cementing the link between the UK and mainland Europe," said Nicolas
Petrovic, chief executive of Eurostar, in a statement to the press.
While airplane passengers
increasingly have to endure shrinking legroom, the new Eurostar trains
have been built to be roomy. The ergonomically-designed reclining seats
are wider, and each comes with its own USB socket and touch sensitive
light controls.
"The combination of bold
design, chic interiors and wi-fi connectivity will raise the bar,
providing an unprecedented level of style and comfort for our
customers," added Petrovic.
Other on-board perks
include a 20% increase in capacity per train (seven trains will join the
fleet next year), free wi-fi, and increased luggage areas. The design
comes courtesy of Pininfarina, the Italian design studio that has worked with the likes of Ferrari and Maserati.
The new design was
unveiled to coincide with Eurostar's 20-year anniversary. During that
time, the company has served over 150 million customers, though Petrovic
believes that's just the tip of the iceberg. Next year, Eurostar also
plans to expand its network to include direct service to Provence, with
stops in Lyon, Avignon and Marseille, followed by the launch of a direct
route to Amsterdam in 2016.
CNN

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