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Eurostar Trains Go In For Exclusive Designer Look
Paris/London, May 29: The Eurostar trains that run through the Channel Tunnel between London, Paris and Brussels are being completely refurbished inside. The new designs, unveiled Tuesday (May 27) in Paris, mark the last stage in a multimillion pound programme to upgrade all elements of the service to attract more people into Britain from plane to rail.
Paris/London, May 29: The Eurostar trains that run through the Channel Tunnel between London, Paris and Brussels are being completely refurbished inside. The new designs, unveiled Tuesday (May 27) in Paris, mark the last stage in a multimillion pound programme to upgrade all elements of the service to attract more people into Britain from plane to rail.
Over 45 million people have travelled on the Eurostar since the service began nine years ago. Now the company thinks it's time to give the inside of the carriages a bit of a facelift.
Unveiling his ideas in Paris, designer Phillipe Starck said he wants to give the Eurostar something different from the cold, cramped feel of an airplane. The new trains will have swivelling leather armchairs in the new roomy Premium Class.
Economy seats will benefit from subdued lighting and calming colours. It's part of a 35 million pound upgrade Eurostar is making to its services and its terminals in Paris, London and Brussels. Money well spent, says the company.
According to Richard Brown, Chief Executive, Eurostar, "The aim is to make sure that our trains and our whole service is seen to be absolutely up-to-date. It's actually not quite so much money when you think of this size of our fleet. We have twenty-seven trains each with eighteen coaches. So we have the capacity of, I guess that must be something like, a hundred 747s. So it does take a bit of money to turn that into something really good."
Visitors to an exhibition this month in Paris of trains old and new got a chance to see a mock up of the new carriage designs, which will be coming in over the next two years. Most seemed impressed by what they saw.
"It has a very warm, designer feel. And it makes you want to travel." said a woman. Another said, "It's very, very, good. It's a good concept."
"I think these refurbishments are very well conceived. They are very ergonomic. There's plenty of space. It's very comfortable and I think travellers will be delighted with them." was the opinion of another woman.
The opening this September of phase one of the high-speed track in England will cut twenty minutes from cross-channel journey times. With more speed, comfort and style Eurostar hopes it will steal a march on its airline rivals in the fiercely competitive cross channel travel market.
Bureau Report
Unveiling his ideas in Paris, designer Phillipe Starck said he wants to give the Eurostar something different from the cold, cramped feel of an airplane. The new trains will have swivelling leather armchairs in the new roomy Premium Class.
Economy seats will benefit from subdued lighting and calming colours. It's part of a 35 million pound upgrade Eurostar is making to its services and its terminals in Paris, London and Brussels. Money well spent, says the company.
According to Richard Brown, Chief Executive, Eurostar, "The aim is to make sure that our trains and our whole service is seen to be absolutely up-to-date. It's actually not quite so much money when you think of this size of our fleet. We have twenty-seven trains each with eighteen coaches. So we have the capacity of, I guess that must be something like, a hundred 747s. So it does take a bit of money to turn that into something really good."
Visitors to an exhibition this month in Paris of trains old and new got a chance to see a mock up of the new carriage designs, which will be coming in over the next two years. Most seemed impressed by what they saw.
"It has a very warm, designer feel. And it makes you want to travel." said a woman. Another said, "It's very, very, good. It's a good concept."
"I think these refurbishments are very well conceived. They are very ergonomic. There's plenty of space. It's very comfortable and I think travellers will be delighted with them." was the opinion of another woman.
The opening this September of phase one of the high-speed track in England will cut twenty minutes from cross-channel journey times. With more speed, comfort and style Eurostar hopes it will steal a march on its airline rivals in the fiercely competitive cross channel travel market.
Bureau Report