Eurostar is set for a decade of major expansion, with new independent research showing the operator already contributes £2 billion a year to the UK economy and supports 23,000 jobs — figures expected to rise sharply as international high‑speed rail enters a new growth phase .
The Fast Track to Growth report, produced by Public First, describes Eurostar as “a piece of national infrastructure” that drives productivity, high‑quality jobs and deeper European connectivity, rather than simply a transport operator . By 2035, Eurostar’s economic impact is projected to reach £2.8 billion and 40,000 jobs, driven by its £1.7 billion investment in new double‑decker Celestia trains arriving from 2031 .
The expanded fleet will enable new direct routes from London to Frankfurt and Geneva, strengthening business links with two major European hubs and freeing up to 20 aviation slot pairs per day as travellers shift from air to rail .
Eurostar’s wider impact includes 500,000 additional tourist visits to the UK each year and 150,000 extra business travellers, generating nearly £500 million in combined spending and productivity benefits . The report also highlights rail’s sustainability advantage, with Eurostar producing 96% fewer emissions than equivalent flights and saving 233,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually through modal shift .
Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave said the findings show why “international rail is worth investing in for the future,” calling for expanded depot capacity, a larger St Pancras and a seamless border to support the next phase of growth .
