PHOTOS: Eurostar unveils golden trains for Paris Olympics

Eurostar has launched a ‘Golden Train’ to celebrate the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, adding two versions of the gold, yellow and grey design to its 51-train fleet. 

The trains, partnered with Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, will transport the general public and athletes alike to the Games, including around 2,000 athletes and staff from the four countries’ teams. 

It transported its first team GB athletes on July 15, taking the archery, boxing and gymnastics teams across the Channel, including triple gold medallist gymnast Max Whitlock. 

Eurostar is expecting to welcome around two million customers between July and September. 

The train company is also adding up to eight more services on peak Olympic days, especially around the opening and closing ceremony, and offering special onboard treats such as Olympic desserts, chocolates, and a new cocktail menu. There is one cocktail for each country, such as the Martinez for France, a sweet twist on a traditional dry martini. 

A dedicated fan zone will also be set up in Coal Drops Yard in London, a shopping and food centre near King’s Cross station.

The golden train’s inaugural journey was christened by Maisie Summers-Newton, a paralympic gold medallist in the 200 m medley S6 and 100 m breaststroke SB6 at Tokyo 2020, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, the heptathlon gold medallist at Beijing 2012 and former track and field olympian Perri Shakes-Drayton.

Travelling by train rather than plane or coach will reduce the 2,000 athletes and staff’s CO₂ emissions by 96%, according to Eurostar.