New report highlights Eurostar’s growing contribution to the UK economy
Une nouvelle étude indépendante réalisée par Public First met en lumière le rôle majeur du transport ferroviaire international à grande vitesse dans le soutien à l’économie britannique. Selon le rapport, Eurostar contribue à hauteur de 2 milliards de livres sterling à l’activité économique au Royaume-Uni et soutient environ 23 000 emplois chaque année. Intitulé Fast track to growth, ce rapport analyse l’impact d’Eurostar en matière de croissance économique, de productivité, de tourisme et de connectivité durable entre le Royaume-Uni et l’Europe continentale. D’ici 2035, la contribution économique d’Eurostar devrait atteindre 2,8 milliards de livres sterling et soutenir 40 000 emplois, portée notamment par l’investissement de 1,7 milliard de livres sterling dans une nouvelle flotte de trains.
Investing in the future of international rail
Eurostar’s investment in up to 50 new double-decker Celestia trains will increase capacity by around 20%, helping meet growing demand for international rail travel. The first trains are expected to enter service in 2031.
The expanded fleet will also support the launch of new direct services from London to Frankfurt and Geneva, further strengthening rail connections between the UK and mainland Europe.
More value for business and leisure travel
The report highlights the wider benefits of international rail, including:
- 500,000 additional leisure visitors travelling to the UK each year thanks to Eurostar, generating £370 million in tourism spending.
- 150,000 additional business travellers arriving annually by rail, contributing £115 million to the UK economy.
- £339 million in annual productivity gains, as travellers can continue working throughout their journey compared with air travel.
The research also shows that Eurostar’s shift from air to rail helped avoid more than 233,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions in 2025, with rail producing on average 96% fewer emissions than an equivalent flight*.
*Calculations taken from an independent study carried out by EcoRes SCRL in November 2024. For full details, see here
Discover the full report
Read the full Fast track to growth report to discover all the key findings and learn more about Eurostar’s vision for the future of international rail.