Announced in autumn 2025, the all-electric Eurostar Celestia fleet, on order for €2 billion from Alstom, should make its debut by 2031, marking the first time double-decker trains will be experienced on British soil (apart from a limited, experimental service that ran from 1949 until the early 1970s).

@traintakes New double decker Eurostar trains! But what happens to the classic sets? #Eurostar #Trains #Railways #news #travel ♬ Double-Decker Bus – Count Five

The new stock will provide 20% more seating, a lower floor to keep the trains within the height constraints of the Channel Tunnel and high-speed tracks, and, the firm boasted during this summer’s heatwaves, will be future proofed with air conditioning for temperatures of up to 55°C.

Cocktails can also keep you cool (though, of course, alcohol should be consumed in moderation particularly in hot weather!), and the bars on the new trains may be more intriguing to some passengers than the intricacies of an air conditioning system. The two-storey affair will have “a different ambience and vibe upstairs and downstairs, making the most of the double-decker views,” a Eurostar spokesperson said, describing the design as a “star attraction of the bespoke train” and “something really special for customers.” Not so special, though, that access can be called exclusive since, unlike Eurostar’s elite passenger lounges in stations, the Celestia cocktail bars will be open to all travellers.

Still, the bars will have to be something special to compete with the arrival of long-awaited new competitors in a Eurotunnel market that has been dominated by a de facto Eurostar monopoly for three decades. Virgin Trains gained Office of Rail and Road approval for its proposed Channel tunnel services back in August 2026. With up to 20 return services slated a day between London St Pancras, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, the Channel Tunnel offer could look very different by 2030.

What’s more, Italian state rail operator Trenitalia is expecting to run 10 return services daily, having already invested €2 billion in the necessary new rolling stock from Hitachi, plus an €80 million depot under development south of Paris, where the firm will overnight its trains to avoid fierce competition for fleet storage at London’s Temple Mills facility. In fact, train expert Mark Smith, aka The Man in Seat 61, told POLITICO: “Trenitalia are in pole position with a 2029 start date.”

L’article Eurostar unveils two-storey cocktail bars on new double-decker trains est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Under the present system, passengers cannot always use their tickets on trains run by another company. Operators sometimes agree to accept each other’s tickets during major disruption, but travellers may have to wait for this permission to be confirmed. Some passengers instead buy an expensive replacement ticket before requesting a refund for the original journey. Others miss appointments or abandon their journeys while waiting for information at the station.

From this weekend, if your train is cancelled, you can get on another operator's service to carry on your journey without paying again.

This covers @GWRHelp and @CrossCountryUK services from #CardiffCentral.

A common sense change that will keep more money in people's pockets. pic.twitter.com/MtKKsxLCZb

— Jo Stevens (@JoStevensLabour) September 15, 2026

The new arrangement will apply to customers holding a valid ticket for a cancelled service. They will be able to take a participating operator’s train departing up to two hours before or after the cancelled service. The replacement journey must follow a direct or reasonable alternative route to the passenger’s destination. Travellers will only have to show their original ticket to customer support staff and will not need to download or obtain a replacement.

For example, a passenger booked on a cancelled 2:00 pm service could consider an eligible alternative departing between 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm. This does not mean that the ticket can be used on every train during that period. The alternative service must be operated by a company taking part in the scheme and follow an appropriate route. Passengers should therefore check departure information or speak to station staff before boarding.

Cross-operator ticket acceptance is already available across publicly owned operators. From Sunday, 20 September 2026, Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry and Great Western Railway will also participate, bringing several important intercity routes into the scheme. They join c2c, Gatwick Express, Greater Anglia, Great Northern, LNER, London Northwestern Railway, Northern, Southeastern, Southern, Thameslink, South Western Railway, TransPennine Express and West Midlands Railway. East Midlands Railway is expected to join at a later date.

NEW TRAIN PASSENGER RIGHT — SAVE THIS

From Sunday, if your train is CANCELLED you will be able to use another participating train operator to complete your journey WITHOUT PAYING AGAIN.

You can use an alternative service departing within:

2 HOURS BEFORE

or

2 HOURS…

— Dean Dunham KC (@deandunham) September 14, 2026

“This is a simple, common-sense change that puts passengers first. No one should be left stranded because of a fragmented railway when their journey is disrupted,” said Rail Minister Lord Hendy. He said passengers should no longer have to pay again when their train is cancelled. Hendy connected the measure with the government’s wider plans to make the railway simpler and easier to use. The reform comes before the creation of Great British Railways, which will place most passenger services under stronger public control.

The new right is more limited than the general idea of switching freely between operators. It only applies following a cancellation and passengers must comply with the two-hour window and route conditions. It also covers the operators participating in the arrangement rather than every rail company. The scheme applies to operators serving the British rail network and should not be confused with services in Northern Ireland, which has a separate railway system.

Transport Focus, the independent passenger watchdog, welcomed the change after calling for a simpler response to cancellations. Chief executive Alex Robertson said disrupted passengers generally want to reach their destination instead of worrying about whether another company will accept their ticket. “The key now is making sure passengers get clear information about their options whenever disruption occurs,” said Transport Focus chief executive Alex Robertson. Information displayed at stations and in journey-planning services will be particularly important when several alternatives are available.

Using another operator and requesting compensation are separate parts of the passenger’s rights. The new measure allows a traveller to complete the journey without paying for another ticket, but it does not introduce new compensation rates. National Rail says passengers whose journeys are delayed or cancelled may be entitled to compensation or a full refund, depending on whether they travel and how late they arrive. Travellers should retain their original ticket and check the rules of the operator responsible for the disrupted journey.

The government is also investing £156 million (€182.3 million) in new ticketing systems. Pay-as-you-go travel is expected to become available at more than 100 additional stations across Greater Manchester, the Midlands and the south-east by 2027. A proposed digital system will use a mobile application and GPS data to record journeys before calculating the appropriate fare, removing the need to buy a ticket in advance or physically tap in and out. A Great British Railways website and app are also being developed to combine ticket sales, timetables and passenger support in one place.

L’article UK rail passengers to travel for free with other operators after cancellations est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Much of the Dutch rail network was paralysed for at least part of the day due to pipes found attached to the rail tracks, according to a statement by the national infrastructure operator, ProRail. “Materials were found in several places along tracks that were deliberately placed there. This is causing section failures. It seems to be sabotage,” ProRail confirmed.

A spokesperson said pipes or unauthorised objects had been discovered in at least 20 different locations from as early as 5:30 am, causing network holdups. One train struck an obstacle but remained safely on the tracks, with no derailment or injuries reported. Level crossings were also reported to be malfunctioning in some places.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NS International (@nsinternational_online)

The central cities of Amersfoort, Deventer, and Zwolle were among the places affected, with the “Prinsjesdag” disruption coinciding with the peak morning rush. The incident is being investigated by police with items recovered for forensic analysis.

Later in the day, sections of motorway had to be closed too, after fires lit alongside the routes caused severe road delays. The arson involved hay bales and car tires, according to the Farmers Defence Force, an activist group that denied responsibility but said its members may have acted individually. “We feel like the country is on fire. Farmers feel as though their businesses are on fire because of the government’s plans”, spokesperson Sieta van Keimpema said.

Political protests have been known to spill out into wider Dutch society before. In 2025, a NATO summit in The Hague was targeted by sabotage that saw train fires around Schiphol airport.

Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram

Публикация от NS International (@nsinternational_online)

Mirjam van Velthuizen, interim CEO of ProRail, said in a statement that this year’s issue had “affected many travelers” and was a demonstration of “just how dependent the Netherlands is on a well-functioning railway network. For anyone who was stranded, delayed, or forced to change their plans, this has a major impact.”

The ceremonial Prinsjesdag opening of parliament went ahead later in the afternoon, including the annual budget being laid out by King Willem-Alexander. The Netherlands’ national finances have been under scrutiny in recent months, with farmers particularly concerned by environmental policies on nature reserves and nitrogen pollution.

L’article Chaos on Dutch railways and roads after suspected farmers’ protest est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Italian train operator Trenitalia has begun testing its Frecciarossa high-speed trains in Germany and Austria, paving the way for direct services between Milan and Munich and Rome and Munich. Once in service, these routes will offer travellers a ground-level view of the majestic Alpine landscapes and surrounding countryside.

Both routes are expected to begin commercial operations in summer 2027, initially offering four connections per day. They will be operated in partnership with Deutsche Bahn (DB) in Germany and Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gruppo FS (@fsitaliane)

The Milan–Munich journey will take approximately six and a half hours and will stop at Brescia, Verona, Rovereto, Trento, Bolzano and Innsbruck. The Rome-Munich service will take approximately two hours longer. It will follow the same route from Verona, with stops in Florence and Bologna beforehand.

Journey times should be significantly reduced once the Brenner Base Tunnel opens, cutting around an hour off travel time between Italy and Germany. The tunnel is currently scheduled to open in 2032, though some reports suggest this may be delayed until 2034.

Trenitalia and DB have developed training programmes for German and Austrian drivers and are sharing technical expertise in order to adapt the trains to the different power supply and signalling systems.

There are plans to further extend train services between Italy and Germany from December 2028, with ten connections between the countries and extended routes to Naples and Berlin. Trenitalia’s parent company, the Italian state railway company Ferrovie dello Stato (FS Group), has also announced plans to “meet demand for other European destinations, such as Frankfurt and Krakow”.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Travel Tomorrow (@traveltomorrow.eu)

Meanwhile, Innsbruck is set to become a central hub for the new network, with both routes passing through the Austrian city after crossing the Brenner Pass from Italy. Crucially, the Frecciarossa 1000 was designed with European interoperability in mind, meaning it can run not only in Italy but also on the rail networks of France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium. This will allow passengers to travel directly from Italy to Germany without changing trains.

The FS Group has wider ambitions and seems intent on conquering the continent by train, one route at a time. It already operates services in France and Spain, and has ordered 19 new high-speed trains in an effort to launch a London–Paris service via the Channel Tunnel by 2029, in the hope of breaking Eurostar’s current high-speed monopoly.

“The start of test runs in Germany and Austria is a step towards delivering a project that confirms our ambition to make the train the benchmark mode of transport for mobility across Europe,” said FS chief executive Gianpiero Strisciuglio.

He described the wider vision as a high-speed “European Metro”, bringing regions, people and economies closer together.

Italy’s Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, also welcomed the progress, describing it as “a further step confirming the growth of the FS Group and its ability to win new markets abroad, while providing better services and infrastructure in Italy. More jobs, more connections, more Italy in Europe.”

L’article New Frecciarossa routes will connect Rome and Milan with Munich est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Travellers planning to go to or cross the Netherlands using public transportation on that day should be ready with a plan B, as a major strike will freeze most services for 24 hours.

The strike, called by the Federation of Dutch Trade Unions (FNV) and the Christian National Trade Union Federation (CNV), is due to begin at 2 am on 9 September for NS and ProRail staff and end 24 hours later. Urban transport services will follow slightly different schedules.

The action was called to protest the government’s plan to cut social security spending, particularly unemployment and disability benefits.

Special provisions have been made for international air travellers, though, with four Airport Sprinter trains per hour running between Amsterdam Central, Schiphol airport and Hoofddorp. Travellers should expect extremely crowded carriages and should be prepared for delays and allow considerably more time to reach the airport.

This minimum service follows an earlier court injunction requiring rail access to Schiphol during strike actions. FNV also said it agreed not to treat the Schiphol service as strike work, allowing volunteers to operate the route during the stoppage.

International rail travellers will have no such luck. All major international services will be suspended in the Netherlands for the day, including Eurostar, EuroCity, EuroCity Direct, ICE and Nightjet trains.

Regional cross-border trains between the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany will not be operating either, with no Roosendaal–Antwerp service and no Liège–Aachen service.

No replacement buses will be provided to cover the stoppage as regional bus drivers will themselves be taking part in the strike. 

In Amsterdam, public transport operator, GVB, will stop running services from 4am on 9 September. Buses, trams, metros and ferries will all be grounded for the remainder of the day.

Public transport will also be suspended in other major cities including Rotterdam and The Hague, while elsewhere in the country, services will either be cancelled or depend on staff availability.

FNV says the proposed cuts to unemployment and disability benefits would weaken the social safety net. Board member Henri Janssen said the plans “affect the livelihood of millions of workers and their families”, arguing that anyone can face illness, disability or involuntary unemployment.

Edwin Kuiper of FNV told Dutch broadcaster NOS that, because of the physically demanding nature of their work, public transport workers have an “above-average chance of requiring disability support”.

Top plan! Het 'Hermans 'netwerk' als 1e aanpakken. Weg met Sophie #ikbensophie en met Loek. Zou de staat veel belastinggeld. #Meavita #HBO hebben gescheeld. Corrumperende familie. #VVD https://t.co/aLwSI1MWnC

— Edwin Kuiper (@edwin_kuiper) June 26, 2026

Alternative transport modes – taxis or ride shares – taken on their own initiative, are no longer reimbursed by NS, since 4 September, when the previous allowance of up to €25 for replacement transport during strikes was scrapped. Affected travellers will have to get reimbursement for their pre-bought tickets via the Compensation for Delay refund scheme (Geld Terug bij Vertraging).

Travellers are advised to keep track of the situation through journey planning apps such as 9292 or NS, and where possible, work from home or make alternative travel arrangements.

Normal services are expected to resume on Thursday morning.

L’article Nationwide Dutch transport strike to hit travel on 9 September, with limited Schiphol services est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The 210-metre tunnel is the first tunnel to be completed on the Kyrgyz section since large-scale construction began in 2025. Overall progress on this section has now reached 17%.

Once completed, the CKU railway will span over 500 kilometres, 305 kilometres of which will run through Kyrgyzstan.

It will link Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang region to Andijan in Uzbekistan, cutting through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan along the way.

This new railway line will be the shortest overland route from China to the Middle East and Europe, establishing a vital new trade corridor that bypasses Russia.

Compared with the existing China-Europe Railway Express, the CKU is expected to cut transit times by up to eight days. Currently, all three main China-Europe routes pass through Russia or Kazakhstan.

According to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, China’s southern Xinjiang province is set to benefit directly from this new westward opening. So too will landlocked Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, which will gain direct access to the Chinese and Asia-Pacific markets.

Construction has already begun on 27 tunnels, 43 bridges and 88 sections of roadbed, as momentum builds. According to Chinese news agency Xinhua, twenty railway stations along the route are also under construction.

Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Kyrgyzstan. The two countries issued a joint statement pledging to ensure the project’s construction proceeds smoothly.

The project began in 1997, at a time when China was accelerating its economic opening and expanding its engagement beyond its borders. However, it was delayed for decades by a host of obstacles, ranging from topological constraints and technical gauge disagreements to geopolitical sensitivities.

Many of these obstacles have since been resolved, and compromises found.

A landmark is being built in the heart of Central Asia.

The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway—a signature infrastructure project under the Belt and Road Initiative. pic.twitter.com/AiP1Ge7sML

— Mao Ning 毛宁 (@SpoxCHN_MaoNing) August 31, 2026

The gauge issue, for example, has been resolved with a dual-gauge system: Chinese standard gauge up to Makmal in Kyrgyzstan, and Soviet-era broad gauge from Makmal onwards into Uzbekistan, with a transhipment hub at Makmal.

Li Lifan, director of the Centre for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Studies at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, told CCTV that this arrangement was significant because it marked China’s standard gauge first entry into “the heart of Central Asia”.

Moscow, however, does not view the project entirely favourably. The new corridor bypasses Russia entirely, which has reportedly raised concerns in Moscow over China’s expanding footprint in Central Asia and the potential diversion of cargo away from traditional transit routes through Russia and Kazakhstan.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vladimir Norov (@v.i.norov)

Russia’s strategic hold over Central Asia has weakened since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as Western sanctions have pushed Moscow into a closer economic relationship with Beijing, but China’s growing influence in a region long regarded as part of Russia’s sphere of influence has created a new layer of competition between the two countries.

Despite this rivalry, Moscow is continuing to deepen their economic ties with Beijing. According to Russian outlet Izvestia, Russia is expanding its existing rail crossings and discussing new highway systems to facilitate the growing trade between the two countries.

Kyrgyzstan, meanwhile, has increasingly sought alternative sources of foreign investment.

The CKU railway is currently expected to become operational by June 2031, according to chief engineer Xi Jihong, but some parties seem more eager than others to see the project completed sooner. Uzbek deputy transport minister Jasurbek Choriev said in June that the country aims to complete the railway by 2028.

L’article China reaches major milestone on Central Asia railway bypassing Russia est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

German travellers from western Germany flying with Brussels Airlines can now combine their flight and train journey in a single booking, thanks to a partnership between the Belgian airline and Deutsche Bahn, with the launch of the ICE high-speed train connection between Cologne and Antwerp, which includes a stop at Zaventem, the name by which Belgians commonly refer to the airport.

The partnership between Brussels Airlines and Deutsche Bahn was announced in February. According to the airline, over a thousand tickets have been sold since then.

Brussels Airlines Chief Financial Officer Nina Öwerdieck expressed her enthusiasm over the partnership, saying that the company can now welcome more guests onto its network “without the need to add flights”.

Brussels Airport offers connections to more than 180 destinations worldwide. The most popular destinations for intermodal travellers are New York (United States), Accra (Ghana) and Alicante (Spain).

“We hope this is the start of a large high-speed train network at Brussels Airport, … with more seamless intermodal travel options”, she added.

Her enthusiasm was echoed by Dr Michael Peterson, DB Board Member for Long-Distance Passenger Transport at Deutsche Bahn, who said the direct trains are making “international rail travel even easier and more appealing for passengers”.

Brussels Airport chief Arnaud Feist warmly welcomed the new connection. He explained that the ambition is to establish this connection sustainably and that they hope it will be the starting point for more high-speed train links in the future.

Feist says Brussels Airport was the first airport in the world to have its own railway station connected directly to the terminal when the new airport opened in 1958, ahead of the Brussels World Fair. “The train has always held a special place at the airport,” said Feist.

Currently, 330 trains stop at the airport station on weekdays, providing direct rail links to 80 stations, a number set to increase as new services are added.

Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram

Публикация от Deutsche Bahn (@deutschebahn)

The new service offers two return journeys every day between Cologne and Antwerp. Trains from Cologne arrive at Brussels Airport at 08:29 and 16:28, while those travelling in the other direction call at the airport at 11:29 and 14:29. The trains also stop in Aachen, Liège and Leuven along the way.

Passengers combining train and plane can earn Miles & More points and benefit from a guaranteed connection in the event of delays. They also receive reserved seating on the train and CityTickets for local transport in Cologne and Aachen. Eligible premium passengers can also access the DB Lounge at Cologne Central Station.

To celebrate the inaugural journey, the first passengers on the service were offered complimentary Neuhaus chocolates, another perk of travelling with a Belgian company.

L’article New Cologne ICE service reconnects Brussels Airport with European rail network est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Gone are the days of endlessly waiting on a desolate railway platform in winter, wondering where on earth our train might be. TrainTracker 24 will not fix the gloomy, insufficiently lit station, but it will show you the history of the station, and more importantly, it will show you the exact whereabouts of your train, explain potential delays and confirm whether or not there is a taxi rank or bike rental service at your destination, or lockers to leave your luggage while you visit the city.

Launched in August, TrainTracker24 functions pretty much like Flightradar24, with trains represented by small coloured arrows moving across the map in real time. Clicking on one of these arrows provides detailed information about the train, including its number, stops and schedule, whether it is on time, the distance it covers, and the total journey time.

A service tab provides information about the train itself. Does it have air conditioning (essential during heatwaves), power sockets, or bike space? Is it accessible for people with reduced mobility, and does it have priority seating? The website clearly shows where the different classes are located on the train and the type of locomotive and carriages being used.

Crucially, the platform also provides “service info” about any disruptions or works along the route, including the dates on which works are scheduled and which stops are affected. Information on delays and cancellations is updated in real time, alongside statistics on active trains and punctuality.

TrainTracker24 est enfin sorti !

Suivez vos trains en temps réel en France, Espagne et Belgique. https://t.co/3V1HIMDXEP

— TrainTracker24 (@traintracker24_) August 26, 2026

It is remarkably easy to follow a train from A to Z, check its punctuality history and watch it make its way across the map. The journey can be made to feel more real by switching to satellite view and exploring the stations it stops at. Updates are provided every 20 seconds.

The latter are interactive, too. Clicking on one brings up a detailed overview alongside constantly updated departure and arrival boards.

There is plenty more to explore for train enthusiasts. The platform provides statistics on passenger numbers and punctuality for individual stations. For example, Brussels-Central has a punctuality rate of 93.8% and an average of 58,877 weekday boardings.

Lille recorded 25,331,979 passengers in 2024, and in June 2026, only 75.8% of its northbound long-distance TGV services were on time, compared with a 90.3% reliability rate for Hauts-de-France regional services.

Meanwhile, Paris Gare du Nord recorded 257,024,152 passengers in 2024 and had an 89.7% punctuality rate in July 2026. Madrid’s overall punctuality rating is 3.2 out of 5, with 87,496 passengers travelling daily.

The map can be filtered by national rail operators and also includes international operators such as Eurostar and Italy’s Frecciarossa. Other filters allow users to identify high-speed stations, stations without rail services, and operational stations that are closed to the public.

The main features of TrainTracker24 are free. Paid options include a personalised journey map, live data on disrupted services, the ability to sort trains by number of delays, and more detailed infrastructure information, ranging from track types to expert analyses.

The platform uses open data supplied by train operators, regional authorities, and infrastructure managers, and it plans to expand further across Europe, where there is a renewed surge in interest in rail travel, including night-train services.

L’article New live map tracks trains in real time across France, Spain and Belgium est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Eurostar has held a de facto monopoly on Channel Tunnel routes since its launch in 1994, but has been criticised for operating below capacity. With the recent approval granted to competitor Virgin for up to 20 return services a day between London St Pancras, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, the Channel Tunnel offer could look very different by 2030, when Virgin anticipates debuting its services.

The Eurotunnel between France and the UK is set to double it's daily routes, as Virgin trains and Trenitalia are set to launch services before 2030.

The UK and Europe might finally start to be truly connected, running trains at 15 minute intervals, and prices should go down. pic.twitter.com/taIr31Dxij

— NXT EU (@NXT4EU) August 26, 2026

Martin Jones, deputy director, access and international at the UK’s Office of Rail and Road (ORR), said Virgin’s successful acquisition of track access rights was “an important next step in bringing competition and growth to the market for international rail services.”

But as previously reported by Travel Tomorrow, other rivals are also waiting in the wings, meaning there could eventually be more than 50 trains per day taking passengers through the Channel Tunnel.

We've approved Virgin Trains' track access contract with London St Pancras High Speed.

Virgin will be able to run up to 20 new daily services between London and Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam from 2030.

Next steps and more details https://t.co/ExmsRDxVZP

— ORR (@railandroad) August 17, 2026

Italian state rail operator Trenitalia is expecting to run 10 return services daily, having already invested €2 billion in the necessary new rolling stock from Hitachi, plus an €80 million depot under development south of Paris, where the firm will overnight its trains to avoid fierce competition for fleet storage at London’s Temple Mills facility.

In fact, Trenitalia is slated to beat Virgin to the starting line, with a 2029 launch date already being discussed. Train expert Mark Smith, aka The Man in Seat 61, told POLITICO: “Trenitalia are in pole position with a 2029 start date, helped by having ordered trains of a type already approved for France and a continuation of an existing production line.”

However, he also pointed out that both operators need more than the capacity and capital to make their plans a reality, given the regulatory hoops they will still need to jump through, including separate national authorisations in each country.

Gemini Trains, partnered with Uber, is another firm with its eye on Channel Tunnel routes, with a goal of running 11 daily services by 2030. Like Trenitalia, it faces the prospect of having to build its own fleet depot in Kent, in southeast England, after being refused stabling space in London.

If all these plans go ahead, 66 trains could be running through the Channel Tunnel, not to mention the 30% expansion Eurostar wants to achieve, with a new train order worth €2 billion due to be fulfilled by the early 2030s and plans for new destinations such as Frankfurt and Geneva. This comes on top of a new direct route to Antwerp launching in December 2026.

L’article Channel Tunnel could soon see trains between London and Europe every 15 minutes est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Passengers must reserve their pizza before starting their journey. Orders can be placed until midnight on the day before departure and are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Travellers must be onboard an eligible train when it passes through Preston, where the delivery takes place. However, they do not need to travel along the entire route between London and Stirling.

Trainline ambassadors will collect the orders during the scheduled stop at Preston and bring them directly to passengers’ seats. Travellers will therefore not need to leave the train or meet a delivery driver on the platform. They can choose Original Cheese and Tomato, Pepperoni Passion, Vegi Supreme or Plant-Based Margheri-tastic. Three of the four choices are meat-free, while the final option is entirely plant-based. The pizza is free, although passengers must have a valid ticket for an eligible Lumo service.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Trainline UK (@trainline)

Research released alongside the campaign suggests that many passengers do not bring enough food for longer journeys. More than half of those surveyed, or 53%, said they underestimate how hungry they will become. Another 40% reportedly experience hunger within the first hour after boarding. According to the companies, hunger is most likely to reach its highest point after two to three hours of travelling. This helps explain why Preston, located roughly halfway along the route, was selected as the delivery point.

The research also found that 57% of train passengers wanted more food choices during their journeys. Almost two-thirds, or 63%, said they would like to have a fresh takeaway delivered directly to their seat. Pizza was the most popular option among the takeaway foods mentioned. However, the figures come from research released by the companies involved in the campaign. “Food shapes how people enjoy travel,” Natalie Marques, head of creative innovation at Trainline, said.

Some passengers have already tried to organise their own takeaway deliveries during train journeys. Around 35% of respondents said they had attempted it, but the brands reported that only one in five successfully collected an order. Short station stops, delays and last-minute platform changes can make these deliveries difficult to coordinate. “We’ve heard the stories of train travellers trying to time a cheeky pizza delivery with a station platform visit,” said Ryan Kenton, PR manager at Domino’s. The organised Preston handover removes the need for passengers to arrange the timing themselves.

The campaign also draws attention to Lumo’s recently launched West Coast route. Trains began running between London Euston and Stirling on 25 May 2026, serving cities and towns including Milton Keynes, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle and Lockerbie. Lumo already sells snacks and drinks from its LumoEats trolley, which crew members bring through the train after completing safety and ticket checks. The novelty of Train Thru is therefore not simply at-seat catering, but coordinating a freshly prepared takeaway with the arrival of a moving train.

Although the companies call Train Thru a UK first, similar systems already operate elsewhere. In India, passengers can order Domino’s through the official IRCTC eCatering service and select a station where they want to receive it. Travellers enter their Passenger Name Record, or PNR, which is the booking number connected to their train ticket. Unlike the three-day British promotion, the Indian system is an established paid service available at selected stations.

L’article UK train passengers can order free Domino’s pizzas directly to their seats est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.