Alstom Secures €1.4 Billion Order from SNCF Voyageurs for 30 Avelia Horizon Trains to Serve Eurostar Routes

Alstom Secures €1.4 Billion Order from SNCF Voyageurs for 30 Avelia Horizon Trains to Serve Eurostar Routes

(IN BRIEF) SNCF Voyageurs has approved a €1.4 billion order for 30 new Avelia Horizon very high-speed trains from Alstom, marking the first time a double-deck train will operate through the Channel Tunnel under Eurostar service. Designed for cross-border travel between Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the UK, the trains will deliver enhanced energy efficiency, lower maintenance costs, and greater passenger comfort. Built across ten Alstom sites in France, the trains will enter service beginning in 2031. The project strengthens France’s leadership in sustainable rail transport while reinforcing Eurostar’s position as a pioneer in international high-speed connectivity.

(PRESS RELEASE) SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, 22-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Alstom has announced a significant expansion of its partnership with SNCF Voyageurs following a new order worth nearly €1.4 billion for 30 next-generation Avelia Horizon very high-speed trains, with options for up to 20 additional units. This optional tranche, part of the existing framework agreement between the two companies, will see the first deliveries beginning in 2031.

The new four-voltage Avelia Horizon trains are specifically designed for international service across Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Operated under the Eurostar banner, they will become the first double-deck high-speed trains ever to travel through the Channel Tunnel — a landmark moment for European rail transport.

“By choosing Avelia Horizon to renew its fleet, Eurostar is confirming its desire to combine technological performance, energy efficiency, and passenger comfort,” said Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Chief Executive Officer of Alstom. “This new-generation train, designed for the demands of international very high-speed travel, embodies our vision of sustainable and competitive European mobility.”

This order represents the third optional tranche under the Avelia Horizon framework agreement, adding to the 115 trains previously ordered by SNCF Voyageurs — 100 for domestic routes within France and 15 for international services across Europe. The Avelia Horizon model reflects over four decades of Alstom’s high-speed expertise and innovation, combining performance, comfort, and reduced environmental impact.

Capable of speeds up to 320 km/h, each train features two compact, high-performance power cars and nine articulated double-deck coaches, comfortably accommodating more than 1,000 passengers in multiple units. Thanks to its advanced aerodynamics and optimized traction system, the new train consumes 20% less energy than previous generations, while maintenance costs are reduced by 30% through simplified servicing, remote diagnostics, and predictive maintenance systems.

“The success of this major programme is based on the commitment of all the French sites involved in the Avelia Horizon project,” said Frédéric Wiscart, President of Alstom France. “Thanks to the involvement of ten national sites, we are once again demonstrating the excellence of French rail engineering and our ability to meet the challenges of sustainable mobility in Europe.”

To meet growing market demand, Alstom will invest €150 million to increase production capacity across several of its French facilities. The Avelia Horizon project engages ten of Alstom’s 14 national sites, including Belfort for power cars, La Rochelle for passenger cars, Villeurbanne for control systems, Ornans for motors, and Le Creusot for bogies.

The Avelia high-speed train range — capable of operating between 200 km/h and 350 km/h — offers unmatched flexibility through its range of configurations, including single and double-deck versions, articulated or non-articulated structures, and options for distributed or concentrated traction. With over 1,000 Avelia trains already in service across 25 countries, Alstom continues to set the global standard for sustainable, efficient, and interconnected high-speed rail travel.

Media contact:

Press contact – Alstom HQ
Stéphane Savignard