Eurostar has ordered new trains that can withstand sweltering temperatures of 55 degrees Celsius, or 131 degrees Fahrenheit, as it gears up for a radically altered European climate over the coming decades.
Preparing for the Future
The company, which operates high-speed trains connecting northern European cities, including London, Paris, and Brussels, initially ordered up to 50 new trains that could handle temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit). However, intensifying heatwaves across the continent have prompted a rethink.
A Eurostar spokesperson said the firm has asked manufacturers to equip the new trains, worth a collective €2 billion ($2.3 billion), with air conditioning units capable of working in heat up to 55 degrees Celsius.
These trains will enter service in 2031 and run into the 2060s, so it’s essential to be prepared for the future, the spokesperson said.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
