Eurostar modifies its trains order to cope with heatwaves
With this year’s heatwave already being compared to 1976, Eurostar has joined the legions of companies preparing for longer, hotter summers in the future.
Eurostar last year placed a £1.7bn order for up to 50 trains from Alstom, which it says will operate in the Channel Tunnel, including double-decker models. Last week the company upgraded its specifications to a model that could operate at up to 55C , as reported in the Financial Times. The original order was for trains that were safe up to 45C.
Eurostar has already added more maintenance bays for air-conditioned units and increased the amount of bottled water it carries during hot spells. This latest order, due to be delivered by the end of the decade, could be in service for 30 years. The new trains are likely to be used during a period of unprecedented global warming in which even northen Europe can expect ‘Saudi-style’ summers.
Category: General News
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