In northern France, near Valenciennes, there’s a haunting sight: an abandoned high-speed train that once sped through the Channel Tunnel now sits silent and still.
This train, known as the Eurostar 373018, is one of the iconic Eurostar Class 373 trains that started running in 1994. These trains could reach speeds of up to 186 mph, quickly transporting passengers between London, Paris, and Brussels via the Channel Tunnel. Now, this train presents an eerie glimpse of what might happen if a zombie apocalypse were to occur.
Since 2016, many Eurostar 373 trains have been taken out of service or scrapped, despite only being on the tracks for 22 or 23 years. Eurostar 373018 is officially in storage, but “abandoned” seems like a more accurate description.
Nature is taking over this once-proud train: branches from nearby trees brush against its windows, weeds grow through the rusting tracks, and graffiti covers its once sleek exterior. It looks like something out of a post-apocalyptic movie, as if Rick Grimes might fend off zombies here, or Mad Max might consider it a potential new ride.
The future of Eurostar 373018 is still up in the air. So far, 18 of these high-speed trains have been dismantled by European Metal Recycling (EMR) in Kingsbury, West Midlands, while others have been scrapped in France. Some have found new homes in museums or educational institutions, and a few lucky ones have been refurbished and are still in service.
Eurostar 373018, now left in “storage” in northern France, has turned into a nesting spot for birds, a vibrant canvas for graffiti artists, and a fascinating site for train enthusiasts, keen-eyed Google Earth users, and urban explorers like AdcaZz, who even filmed a video tour of the train on YouTube.
Why were these once cutting-edge trains abandoned instead of being repurposed? The reasons are varied. Technological advancements made these 22-year-old trains outdated, and it was more cost-effective to introduce a modern fleet than to overhaul the old ones. The new trains offered more seating capacity, which meant more revenue. In the end, many of the Eurostar 373s were deemed “life-expired” and retired.
