Eurostar appoints Christophe Fanichet as new chief executive. Eurostar has appointed former SNCF Voyageurs chairman and chief executive Christophe Fanichet as its new chief executive following the departure of Gwendoline Cazenave. Fanichet will take up the role on December 1, with Eurostar's deputy chief executive Matthieu Quyollet serving as interim chief executive until then. Cazenave has stepped down after four years leading the high-speed rail operator, during which time she oversaw the integration of Eurostar and Thalys under a single brand. The company also returned to sustained growth and reached 20 million annual passengers during her tenure. Fanichet was chairman and chief executive of SNCF Voyageurs from January 2020 to July 2026 and has served on Eurostar's board since 2022. He has held senior leadership roles within the SNCF Group for almost 20 years. Fanichet said: "I am delighted to be joining the Eurostar Group team and dedicating myself to its development. "Eurostar is a magnificent company; I know very well the talent and commitment of its staff in serving our customers, the strength of its network across Europe, and its power as a global benchmark for travel. "I embrace the challenge presented by this new chapter. We will need to implement the necessary investments and transformations to ensure Eurostar's growth within a competitive landscape." Gwendoline Cazenave Cazenave said Eurostar's revenue had grown by more than 30% since 2022, with an earnings margin of 18%. She highlighted the company's €2 billion investment in its new Celestia fleet of double-decker high-speed trains as a key part of its future growth plans. "As I step down from leading Eurostar after four years, I can see the full extent of the transformation we have achieved," she said. "We brought Eurostar and Thalys together to create a European high-speed rail champion, complete with a strong brand, an expanded network, and a completely reimagined customer experience." Eurostar has ordered up to 50 Celestia trains from Alstom, with the first due to enter service from May 2031. The operator currently has a fleet of 51 trains serving more than 20 destinations across the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

Eurostar named Best Rail Company in Europe. The rail company has gone from strength to strength this year, including a win at our annual awards * Business Traveller Awards 2026 Winner - Best Rail Company in Europe True to form, Eurostar has been advancing at high speed since its inaugural win of best regional rail network last year - with a new direct service to Antwerp launching next month, and double-decker Celestia trains, complete with stylish cocktail bars, entering service in 2031, after an investment of £1.7bn. The operator started 2026 on a high, celebrating record levels of custom in 2025, and, in January, reaching the milestone of 400 million passengers carried since the service began, in 1994. Eurostar makes flying feel like hard work. City centre to city centre, and proper onboard dining Michael Keating, Business Traveller CEO Three years into its merger with Thalys, Eurostar has not only strengthened its European presence, but it's also raised its profile, harnessing a network that has built upon its cross-Channel remit to span a total of five countries. London-Paris may be its strongest performing route, but customers are increasingly plotting trips to cities including Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam - connecting beyond, to destinations such as Bordeaux and Cologne. The expanded fleet will also see Frankfurt and Geneva added to the roster of destinations on offer from London in the next decade. Eurostar's title as best rail company in Europe will soon be put to the test, however, with Virgin Trains entering the market in 2030. Hannah Brandler Hannah Brandler is Editor-at-Large at Business Traveller, reporting on everything from new airline launches and hotel design trends, to exclusive interviews with C-suite executives and entrepreneurs. She also contributes to titles including Elite Traveler, Skift, Business Insider and The 50 among other publications. Most recent. 23rd October 2026 22nd October 2026

Eurostar and European Sleeper partnership makes overnight Germany journeys easier. Travellers can now book a seamless rail journey from London to destinations across Germany thanks to a new partnership between Eurostar, European Sleeper and Dutch rail booking platform Choo-Choo. Travellers can now book a seamless rail journey from London to destinations across Germany thanks to a new partnership between Eurostar, European Sleeper and Dutch rail booking platform Choo-Choo. The collaboration introduces a new booking tool that allows passengers to combine Eurostar services with European Sleeper's overnight trains on a single ticket. The journey begins with Eurostar from London to Brussels, where travellers can connect directly onto the Good Night Train and continue overnight into Germany. London is the first city to be connected through the new feature, marking an important step in making international rail travel simpler and more accessible. For passengers, the appeal is clear. Instead of managing multiple bookings across different operators, travellers can arrange the entire trip in one transaction and benefit from greater confidence if connections are affected. The partnership also shines a spotlight on the growing popularity of overnight rail. Business and leisure travellers can leave London in the evening, travel by Eurostar to Brussels, board the sleeper service and wake up the following morning in Germany, ready to start the day. As demand for lower stress alternatives to short haul flying continues to rise, the new booking platform removes one of the key barriers to international rail travel, making the dream of going to sleep in London and waking up in Germany easier than ever. The 5-minute daily briefing for UK business travellers. Free. Unsubscribe any time. Andrea Thompson Andrea can be found either in the Travelling For Business office or around the globe enjoying a city break, visiting new locations or sampling some of the best restaurants all work related of course!