Eurostar is celebrating the countdown to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris by launching two gold-liveried trains.
The golden e320 trains, decorated in honour of the athletes, will transport both competitors and customers to/from Paris this summer.
As the official travel partner for Team GB and ParalympicsGB, Eurostar says it will operate 160 trains to transport over 2,000 athletes and staff across four teams – GB, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany.
Two million tourists are also expected to travel to the Games via the high-speed rail service between the months of July and September.
To cater to the demand, Eurostar is adding up to eight more services between London and Paris on peak Olympic days – those that align with the opening and closing ceremonies (between 25-27 July and 10-12 August).
The celebratory golden train was unveiled at St Pancras International this morning, a month ahead of the start of the Games, with Olympian Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Paralympics double gold medallist Maisie Summers-Newton, and former Team GB athlete Perri Shakes-Drayton in attendance.
Simon Lejeune, Eurostar Chief Safety and Stations Officer, stated:
“Today marks the launch of one month to go to the Olympics. Eurostar is delighted to partner with four national teams for Paris 2024 including Team GB and ParalympicsGB.
“In honour of this, we’ve launched The Golden Train, a symbol of support for all athletes going for gold and for customers who’ll be travelling via us to get to the games. We’re honoured to have Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Maisie Summers-Newton and Perri Shakes-Drayton here to mark the moment.”
Maisie Summers-Newton, who is competing this summer, added:
“Launching Eurostar’s Golden Train is an incredible experience. The Paralympic Games are a testament to resilience and determination, and I am excited to be part of an event that celebrates these values and can’t wait to compete in the Paris 2024 games.”
The onboard service will also feature Olympic-themed amenities. There will be special desserts in Business Premier, Standard Premier and Premium carriages, while the Paris and London lounges will serve Olympic chocolates and a new Olympic-gold cocktail menu.
For those returning from Paris but keen to continue the celebrations, there will be a dedicated fan zone in Coal Drops Yard – just a ten-minute walk from St Pancras International.
In September we travelled to Paris to discover how the city is gearing up for the 2024 Games:
