New interior look for Eurostar

Eurostar, the high-speed passenger train service that links the UK with France and Belgium, has unveiled its new chic train interiors. All 27 trains in the Eurostar fleet are being completely refurbished over the next 12 months.

In first class, the emphasis has been on creating the perfect environment for today's business traveller - an extension of the office with plenty of room for working. All first class carriages include new-style seats with pushbutton reclining mechanism, new tables and table lights, power sockets for laptops or mobile phones and new snooze-friendly pillows, enabling passengers to simply relax in their own time.

Paul Charles, Director of Communications, Eurostar, commented: "For business travellers, Eurostar is the office on the move. You can work with plenty of space around you, charge your laptop, and use your time on board as productively as possible. Our refurbished trains combine that ease of working with real comfort."

The two bar buffet cars on each Eurostar train have been refreshed with wood-style panelling, new flooring, and new bar counter and table tops. All toilets have been changed, sporting a new silver design.

In standard class, the main changes include more comfortable seating, new carpets, leather anti-macassars, and extra luggage space because of the removal of some seats. Each train now has 750 seats. Two standard class carriages also have power sockets installed.

Paul Charles added : "Eurostar has designed its interiors to emphasise freedom when travelling. You can relax, or walk around, or work when you want to - there are no restrictions such as seatbelt signs or being told to sit down because the pilot has encountered turbulence."

The refurbishment work is being carried out at the SNCF's new state of the art workshop in Hellemmes near Lille. An in-house design team, comprising Eurostar and SNCF experts, has been working on the project for three years.