Eurostar’s chief executive, Gwendoline Cazenave, has expressed concern over capacity constraints as the company prepares to face new competition on cross-Channel rail services. Speaking at St Pancras International in London, Cazenave highlighted challenges around infrastructure limitations amid plans to introduce a new double-decker fleet and an expanding market.
Cazenave, who has led Eurostar since 2023, reflected on her early career managing train drivers in Brittany, noting the male-dominated environment she encountered and initial barriers she overcame. Now 57, she oversees operations that currently serve around 18,000 passengers daily from St Pancras station.
The rail operator recently experienced a surge in demand following a four-hour disruption to UK air traffic control systems, which stranded tens of thousands of travelers. Eurostar recorded approximately 5,000 last-minute UK bookings within 24 hours as passengers sought alternative travel options.
Looking ahead, Eurostar plans to expand capacity with the introduction of 50 new double-decker trains, known as the Celestia fleet, ordered last year for €2 billion. The first of these trains is expected to enter service in 2031. Each train will carry 20 percent more passengers than current models, accommodating over 1,000 people per journey. Eurostar aims to increase its annual passenger count from 20 million to 30 million in the coming years.
Cazenave also unveiled plans for a unique onboard feature: a double-decker cocktail bar inspired by the popular Premier lounge at St Pancras. This design innovation will accompany the new fleet and is intended to enhance the passenger experience.
The company’s expansion ambitions come amid emerging competition in the cross-Channel high-speed rail market. Virgin Trains, backed by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, received regulatory approval last month to operate 20 daily return services between London and destinations including Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam from 2030 to 2040. Additionally, Italian state-owned Trenitalia aims to launch its own services under the Channel Tunnel by 2029.
Cazenave welcomed competition but cautioned that capacity constraints imposed by existing station layouts and infrastructure present a significant challenge. She emphasized that while there is strong demand for cross-border train travel, limited platform space and inadequate facilities—particularly at St Pancras—restrict the ability to scale services.
“For example, large sections of platforms at St Pancras remain unused despite growing passenger numbers,” she said. “There is plenty of space in the tunnel and along most tracks, but stations and depots need to be reconfigured with a broader vision for capacity.”
Eurostar’s CEO expressed concern that political and governmental stakeholders across countries have focused on limiting rather than expanding infrastructure capacity. She warned this could hamper Eurostar’s growth plans and impact the market’s ability to accommodate multiple operators.
While Eurostar currently maintains its monopoly on Channel Tunnel services, the company faces a pivotal moment as new entrants prepare to challenge its dominance. Cazenave remains determined to compete but stressed that without significant infrastructure upgrades, increasing demand may exceed the station and network capacities.
St Pancras today, she concluded, is not equipped to handle the projected passenger growth delivered by the new fleet, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated investment and expansion to sustain the cross-Channel rail market’s future development.