Editing Eurostar (section)

==== Eurostar e320 ====
{{Main|Eurostar e320}}

In addition to the announced mid-life update of the existing Class 373 fleet, Eurostar in 2009 began looking to purchase eight new trainsets.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 April 2009 |title=Eurostar considering larger fleet? |work=Railway Gazette International |location=London |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//eurostar-considering-larger-fleet.html |access-date=18 April 2009 |archive-date=9 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809105717/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/eurostar-considering-larger-fleet.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Any new trains would need to meet the same safety rules governing passage through the Channel Tunnel as the existing Class 373 fleet. The replacement to the Class 373 trains has been decided jointly between the French Transport Ministry and the UK [[Department for Transport]].  The new trains will be equipped to use the new [[ERTMS]] in-cab signalling system, due to be fitted to High Speed 1 around 2040.<ref name="rmtbrist">{{Cite news |date=9 October 2007 |title=2017 start date for Great Western ERTMS upgrade |publisher=The National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport workers (RMT) |url=http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/10/2017_start_date_for_great_west.html |url-status=dead |access-date=8 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226182631/http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/10/2017_start_date_for_great_west.html |archive-date=26 December 2007}}</ref>

[[File:Eurostar in Amsterdam CS 2024 2.jpg|thumb|Eurostar e320 in [[Amsterdam Centraal station|Amsterdam CS]]]]
On 7 October 2010, it was reported that Eurostar had selected [[Siemens]] as preferred bidder to supply 10 [[Siemens Velaro]]<ref name="rgi320kmhtrains" /> trainsets at a cost of €600{{nbsp}}million<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 October 2010 |title=Eurostar unveils £700m train deal |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11491048 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125004555/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11491048 |url-status=live }}</ref> These would be sixteen-car, [[Electric multiple unit|self-propelled]], {{Convert|400|m|ft|-long|abbr=out|adj=mid}} trainsets built to meet Channel Tunnel requirements.<ref name="rgi20101001">{{Cite news |date=1 October 2010 |title=Eurostar picks Velaro to expand fleet |work=Railway Gazette International |location=London |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/eurostar-picks-velaro-to-expand-fleet.html |access-date=2 October 2010 |archive-date=7 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007102149/http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/eurostar-picks-velaro-to-expand-fleet.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The top speed of the e320 trainsets is {{cvt|320|km/h|abbr=on|round=10}} with 902 seats, compared to the e300 fleet which has a top speed of {{cvt|300|km/h|0|abbr=on}} and a seating capacity of 750. Total traction power will be rated at {{Convert|16|MW|hp|abbr=on}}.<ref name="rgi320kmhtrains">{{Cite web |date=7 October 2010 |title=320 km/h train order as Eurostar sets sights on expansion |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/320-kmh-train-order-as-eurostar-sets-sights-on-expansion.html |website=Railway Gazette International |location=London |access-date=4 January 2012 |archive-date=11 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011092354/http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/320-kmh-train-order-as-eurostar-sets-sights-on-expansion.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 October 2010 |title=Carbon efficient Eurostar fleet going green |work=Silicon Republic |location=Dublin |url=http://www.siliconrepublic.com/green-tech/item/18446-carbon-efficient-eurostar/ |url-status=dead |access-date=8 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220104831/http://siliconrepublic.com/green-tech/item/18446-carbon-efficient-eurostar/ |archive-date=20 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=31 October 2011 |title=Siemens weathering economic storm as work begins on new Eurostar |work=International Railway Journal |location=London |url=http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/siemens-weathering-economic-storm-as-work-begins-on-new-eurostar-1375.html |url-status=dead |access-date=7 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319012931/http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/siemens-weathering-economic-storm-as-work-begins-on-new-eurostar-1375.html |archive-date=19 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2011 |title=Siemens Mobility References |url=http://www.mobility.siemens.com/apps/references/index.cfm?z=1&do=app.detail&referenceID=1718&lID=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524131015/http://www.mobility.siemens.com/apps/references/index.cfm?z=1&do=app.detail&referenceID=1718&lID=1 |archive-date=24 May 2012 |access-date=7 April 2012 |publisher=Siemens}}</ref> The e320 trainsets would also be quadri-current, adding the ability to run on the {{15 kV AC}} system used in Germany, allowing for an expanded route network, including services between London and [[Cologne]].<ref name="rgi20101001" />

The selection of Siemens would see it break into the French high-speed market for the first time, as all French high-speed operators use TGV derivatives produced by [[Alstom]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wright |first=Robert |date=1 October 2010 |title=Row breaks out over Eurostar train order |work=Financial Times |location=London |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5696688c-cd4c-11df-ab20-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=rss |access-date=1 October 2010 |archive-date=2 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002115916/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5696688c-cd4c-11df-ab20-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=rss |url-status=live }}</ref> Alstom attempted legal action to prevent Eurostar from acquiring the German-built trains, claiming that the Siemens sets would breach Channel Tunnel safety rules,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wright |first=Robert |date=19 October 2010 |title=Alstom heads for court over Eurostar trains |work=Financial Times |location=London |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d9258852-db64-11df-ae99-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d9258852-db64-11df-ae99-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}</ref> but the case was thrown out by the [[High Court of Justice|High Court]] in London.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 October 2010 |title=Alstom fails to block Eurostar contract |work=International Railway Journal |location=London |url=http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/alstom-fails-to-block-eurostar-contract.html |access-date=30 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101061536/http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/alstom-fails-to-block-eurostar-contract.html |archive-date=1 November 2010}}</ref> On 4 November 2010, Alstom lodged a complaint with the [[European Commission]] over the tendering process.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 November 2010 |title=Alstom lodges Eurostar complaint in Brussels |work=Financial Times |location=London |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/30191634-e843-11df-8995-00144feab49a.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210201224/https://www.ft.com/content/30191634-e843-11df-8995-00144feab49a#axzz14zoLF4h2 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=11 November 2010 }}</ref> Alstom then started legal action claiming that the Eurostar tender process was "ineffective",<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wendlandt |first=Astrid |date=11 November 2010 |title=Alstom says Eurostar tender hearing in Oct 2011 |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE6AA1T720101111 |access-date=11 November 2010 |archive-date=30 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130014011/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE6AA1T720101111 |url-status=live }}</ref> the High Court rejected the second suit in July 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Milmo |first=Dan |date=15 July 2011 |title=Siemens keeps €600m Eurostar order after Alstom legal challenge fails |page=29 |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/jul/14/siemens-keeps-eurostar-order-from-alstom |access-date=15 August 2012 |archive-date=30 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930122230/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/jul/14/siemens-keeps-eurostar-order-from-alstom |url-status=live }}</ref>  In April 2012, Alstom said it would call off court actions against Siemens.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Topham |first=Gwyn |date=3 April 2012 |title=Alstom drops Eurostar legal action after SNCF orders more trains |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/apr/02/eurostar-siemens |access-date=15 August 2012 |archive-date=30 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130014102/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/apr/02/eurostar-siemens |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 13 November 2014, Eurostar announced the purchase of an additional seven e320s for delivery in the second half of 2016. At the same time, Eurostar announced the first five e320s from the original order of ten would be available by December 2015, with the remaining five entering service by May 2016. Of the five sets ready by December 2015, three of them were planned to be used on London-Paris and London-Brussels routes.<ref name="railwaygazette.com">{{Cite web |last=UK |first=DVV Media |title=Eurostar orders seven more e320s |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/europe/single-view/view/eurostar-orders-seven-more-e320s.html |access-date=14 August 2016 |website=Railwaygazette.com |archive-date=29 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629221124/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/europe/single-view/view/eurostar-orders-seven-more-e320s.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>