British holidaymakers travelling to the continent can expect cooler journeys in the coming decades after Eurostar upgraded its fleet order.

As temperatures continue to soar across the UK, the train company is set to get new double-decker trains that function in temperatures up to 55°C.

The Channel Tunnel operator amended its £1.7billion contract with Alstom last week, ensuring the 50 new Celestia trains will cope with extreme heat.

Originally, the deal announced last October specified equipment capable of operating at 45°C.

However, executives reconsidered following France's three hottest days ever recorded last month, when over 40 per cent of the country experienced temperatures exceeding 40°C and Pissos near Bordeaux reached 44.3°C.

Eurostar's chief executive Gwendoline Casenave said this week's heatwave, the third to strike Europe this year, had justified the additional spending as French temperatures again reached 40°C and London braced for highs of 35°C today.

"We thought, hey, this is northern Europe the UK, Germany, Switzerland and in France we don't go south of Paris, so up to 45°C is OK. Then, a week ago, after the last heatwave, we decided to take the 55°C option," she told The Telegraph.

"We are buying trains that will last 30 years, and we thought maybe in the 2060s, even in the UK, the temperatures could reach those levels. It's more expensive but it will be worth it."

The upgraded package is set to incorporate enhanced cooling systems alongside superior components and microprocessors designed to perform in high temperatures.

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These Celestia trains, due for delivery in 2031, will make history as the first double-decker services to traverse the Channel Tunnel.

Each train will carry more than 1,000 passengers, significantly boosting capacity for British travellers heading to Paris, Brussels and beyond.

Eurostar has also activated its emergency "solstice plan" to manage the current spell of scorching weather, with the protocol launching weeks ahead of previous years due to unseasonably warm spring conditions that triggered May's first heatwaves.

Now in its third year, the plan establishes monitoring procedures for air conditioning and water supplies across every carriage, while reserving maintenance depot capacity for urgent cooling system repairs.

Approximately one in 10 Eurostar services have suffered heat-related breakdowns and delays.