Big day for Eurostar as it finally unveils new trains for its continental rail routes, including a big push on tech-driven passenger services.
The operator is investing around £700 million in ten new Siemens-made trains - known as e320s, as they run at 320 km/h - to enter service between London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and further afield.
The investment is part of a simultaneous move to make Eurostar a standalone company rather than part-owned by other organisations.
The company says the new trains will be able to carry 900 passengers (up from the 750 on existing services), but for the tech-heads the good bit comes in with confirmation that each train will have interactive entertainment systems such as on-demand video, music and new-feeds.
The technology will also be extended to the older units during 2011.
An official says further details about the extent of the on-board entertainment systems will be made shortly, so whether these are toys only for first class passengers or the entire range of seats is unclear.
A short clip giving a glimpse of the new trains and an interview with CEO Nicholas Petrovic:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IJADuyfKXE