Eurostar, the high-speed rail service across Europe, unveiled its first-ever Golden Train in celebration of the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Promising customers and athletes a medal-worthy journey, the first departure was christened by world-renowned Olympian Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, ParalympicsGB double gold medallist Maisie Summers-Newton, and former Team GB athlete Perri Shakes-Drayton.
The golden e320 trains, decorated in honour of the athletes, are set to transport competitors and customers on the way out to Paris, throughout the games and on a very special return. As the official travel partner for Team GB and ParalympicsGB for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Eurostar is gearing up to welcome over 2,000 Olympic and Paralympic athletes on board from four teams: Team GB, Team Belgium, Team Netherlands, and Team Germany.
2 million passengers are expected to travel to the Games
Between July and September, two million customers are expected to travel to the Games via Eurostar’s high-speed service, with peak travel days aligning with the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics—from 25th to 27th July and 10th to 12th August.
To mark this occasion, Eurostar invited Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Maisie Summers-Newton, and Perri Shakes-Drayton to St Pancras International to discuss their ambitions for this summer of sport.
“As we gear up for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Eurostar’s Golden Train symbolises the journey towards excellence. It’s an honour to be part of this launch, and I wish all the athletes the best as they compete on the world stage as I pass the baton to talent such as Maisie,” Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill commented.
Excited at the prospect of taking gold home at this year’s Paralympics, Maisie Summers-Newton 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.”
Perri Shakes-Drayton also shared her excitement: “The Golden Train is a fantastic initiative by Eurostar. It brings together athletes and supporters, highlighting the unity and spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have.”
Eurostar is increasing services
Going for gold with its latest launch, Eurostar is increasing services and adding up to eight more services running between London and Paris on peak Olympic days compared to the current timetable. This exciting increase means more tickets are now still available, giving fans another chance to be part of the action and catch all the excitement of the games.
During the Games, 160 Eurostar trains will transport 2,000 athletes and staff from Team GB, ParalympicsGB, Team Belgium, Team Para Belgium, Team Netherlands, Team ParaNL and Team Deutschland in a sustainable way. No other company is partnering with so many different teams.
The Paris games are a celebration for Eurostar customers, and as such, there will be special Olympic desserts onboard in Business Premier, Standard Premier, and Premium as well as “Olympic” chocolates and a new Olympic-gold cocktail menu in Paris and London lounges. 21,000 glasses of champagne are predicted to be served during the Games, as fans and athletes toast the medal sweep. For those looking to celebrate even further once they step off the train, a dedicated fan zone will launch in Coal Drops Yard, allowing for extended festivities.
Eurostar’s commitment to sustainability means that athletes travelling to Paris will reduce their carbon footprint significantly whilst travelling to the continent and back. According to a study by EcoRes (performed in 2023), the 2,000 athletes, Olympians, Paralympians, and their staff travelling to Paris with Eurostar will be cutting their CO2 emissions by up to 96% compared to air or coach travel.
“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,” Simon Lejeune, Eurostar Chief Safety and Stations Officer, said.
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