400 Million Euros: SNCF Approves Order for Alstom's New High-Speed Train "Celestia"!

The Board of Directors of SNCF Voyageurs has approved the purchase of an additional 30 new-generation Avelia Horizon high-speed trains, with an order value of nearly 1.4 billion euros and an option for 20 more trains. The first batch is scheduled for delivery in 2031. The trains ordered this time are the four-voltage version of the model, designed to meet the needs of cross-border transportation in Europe. Operating under the "Eurostar" brand, these international train sets will run on the railway networks of five countries: Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. They will also be able to travel directly to London St. Pancras International Station in the UK via the English Channel Tunnel, making them the first double-deck high-speed trains to operate on this route. The trains are compatible with four voltage systems: 1.5 kV DC, 3 kV DC, 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC, and 25 kV 50 Hz AC, which can meet the operational requirements of Eurostar's routes in the aforementioned five countries. This order is the third optional batch under the framework contract between SNCF Voyageurs and Alstom: 100 trains were ordered in 2018 for domestic commercial operations in France; 15 trains were ordered in 2022 for cross-border operations in Europe; and the 30 trains ordered in 2025 will serve Eurostar routes across the five countries mentioned above. Alstom has released the design of the train, which features a gray main body with green logos and is named Eurostar "Celestia".