23 July 2025
London, 23rd July 2025 – The UK can lead the next phase of Europe’s high-speed rail expansion – but only if infrastructure and regulation align behind an ambitious, long-term strategy, Eurostar urges. This follows Eurostar’s latest submission to the Office of Rail and Road’s (ORR) on the future of Temple Mills International (TMI) depot in East London.
In June, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said that the depot can support either Eurostar’s full growth plans or those of a single new entrant - but not both. Eurostar’s submission urges the ORR to look beyond TMI and take a system-wide view of what international rail needs to thrive. With demand for international rail surging across Europe, this is a pivotal moment.
Eurostar believes that London can be a leading centre for high-speed train maintenance at a European level, bringing industrial investment and skilled jobs to the UK. This is the moment to make bold choices and with the right support from the Government, the UK has a real opportunity to secure its place in leading the next era of European sustainable transport – strongly contributing to the country’s growth agenda.
For over 30 years, Eurostar has led the growth of high-speed cross-Channel and continental rail services, carrying 19.5 million passengers in 2024 – a 5% rise from the previous year, with a target to carry 30 million passengers annually. Eurostar has bold future plans, including opening new direct routes from London to Frankfurt and Geneva, which supports the recent UK Government agreements with Germany and Switzerland. These plans are already backed by a €2 billion investment programme that includes up to 50 new trains, expanded maintenance capacity and upgraded station infrastructure in London, Paris and Brussels.
Eurostar is also planning a major investment into TMI – Eurostar’s only British depot – to support the operator’s growth ambitions as it introduces its new fleet. This will in the region of €80m based on what was previously invested to introduce its new e320 fleet.
However, the limited capacity at TMI underlines the need for big-picture thinking. Industry and Government must work together to encourage private investment in new depot facilities beyond TMI to facilitate the growth of the sector. This could include utilising other depots such as Southeastern and Hitachi’s Ashford Train Maintenance Centre, freight facilities at Dollands Moor, Singlewell depot, Ripple Lane, HS1 chord and Fawkham Junction, and other land/sites in East London to build brand new facilities.
With demand for sustainable travel at an all-time high and growth being a key challenge for the country, the UK cannot afford to fall behind.
Gareth Williams, General Secretary and Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer at Eurostar, said:
“Eurostar is on the side of solutions, and we believe there is an incredible opportunity to grow international rail as demand for sustainable travel increases. “Our plans are financed, already underway, and designed to deliver for the long term – from introducing a brand-new fleet thatwill be maintained in the UK, to opening brand-new routes -we know what it takes to deliver growth."
“Temple Mills is an important foundation of that future. We want to be a leading centre for European high-speed maintenance, bringing skilled jobs and industrial investment. The regulator, UK Government and private investors have a unique moment now to make bold decisions to unlock the huge potential of international rail and encourage more European links for tourism, trade and education.”
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Notes to editors
Eurostar response to the ORR’s letter dated 12 June 2025 regarding applications for directions under section 17 of the Railways Act 1993 for access to Temple Mills International Depot - LINK
Eurostar is leading the sustainable growth of cross-border travel — with a proven model, a trusted brand and an ambitious plan already in motion.
• 19.5 million passengers carried in 2024 (+5% from the previous year), with a target of 30 million annually
• Tripled capacity in Amsterdam Centraal with passenger volume from London to Amsterdam now up +18% year-on-year • Top-ranking customer satisfaction and growing frequency on key routes, most recently announcing a new fifth daily service on the London-Amsterdam route. Sales opened on 10 July and services start from 15 December 2025
• A fully funded, multi-phase plan to deliver a new fleet and enhanced network – including new routes to Frankfurt and Geneva - and modernised maintenance
• Breaking record after record with throughput in London St Pancras, now reaching over 2,000 customers an hour. Eurostar has partnered with London St Pancras High Speed on plans to expand the capacity in the station for up to 5,000 people per hour
• Over 580,000 tonnes of CO₂ saved annually, shifting journeys from air to rail
Track record of investment – and what’s next
Eurostar has a long-standing record of investing significantly in TMI. When the depot was upgraded to accommodate the current e320 fleet, the project cost of around £90 million. Eurostar also funded a £16 million bogie drop facility in 2025 to enable more heavy maintenance – infrastructure that will now be central to its future fleet plan.
The next phase of investment is even more ambitious
• €80 million marked for Temple Mills as Eurostar looks to its next generation of new fleet
• Expansion of stabling, track layout and maintenance capacity
• Upgrades to accommodate light and heavy maintenance for new rolling stock Eurostar’s submission sets out its plans for Temple Mills backed by committed funding: Phase 1 – Scaling up now with existing fleet
• Eurostar aims to grow to 25m passengers
• 15% more new daily services using the current fleet • Fully financed through 2024 refinancing
Phase 2 – Fleet transformation and infrastructure expansion
• Procurement of up to 50 new high-speed trains, replacing older e300 units and PBA/PBKa continental fleet with interoperable fleet - an increase of 30% to the overall fleet. The first news trains will be operational from the early 2030s
• Expand heavy maintenance in the UK, enhancing efficiency and reliability
• Extensive depot redevelopment to support long-term growth, additional €80 million planned for Temple Mills
• Seamless integration with station capacity expansions planned in the same period as St Pancras, Paris Nord and Brussels