Tunnel vision: Picky Nicky isn’t on board with Eurostar’s retrograde refurb

Picky Nicky vents his frustration
Living up to his moniker once again, Picky Nicky vents his frustration at the new, less than perfect Eurostar refurb for our June issue
(Image credit: Danae Diaz)

Like many frequent users of the Eurostar train service between London and Paris, I have been waiting for the day that you can work from your WiFi-connected seat. I travelled on WiFi-connected high-speed trains in China in 2010, so never really understood the long wait. So imagine my disappointment when I stepped on board Eurostar’s new e320 trains, and found they were not connected.

I posted a photo on Instagram with #stillnowifi and #dumb hashtags. Minutes later, comments came in from a gaggle of respected fashion critics, including US Vogue’s Sarah Mower, Vanity Fair France’s Virginie Mouzat and The Telegraph’s Lisa Armstrong, their essay-length comments slaughtering the new carriage design. By then I had been busy banging my knees on the underside of the extendable tables, tried and failed to figure out how to turn off my light (the cabins are overlit as it is), while also wondering why anyone would want to ‘slim down a seat’ and wishing for the comfort of the old Philippe Starck-designed seating with their wool velvet covers.

Shortly afterwards, design website Dezeen contacted me for comment, as it had noticed my post and the slew of passionate comments. It published a story on my post, which received further comments online and was included in its newsletter, arriving in my inbox with the title ‘Eurostar redesign “disaster”’ – pure Picky Nicky power.

Still, a train that gets me to Paris from St Pancras in two hours and 20 minutes is pretty impressive, although we pay for the privilege. So when an investment like this comes out so wrong, it makes you wonder, is designer Pininfarina to blame, has it lost its edge, or does Eurostar just lack a creative chief? Perhaps it just lacks competition. Deutsche Bahn plans to operate an Inter City Express (ICE) service from Germany to London, but development of its Class 407 trains is behind schedule and complicated by the need to operate on British, Belgian, French and German systems. When Italo arrived on the scene in Italy, it certainly shook things up, and existing operator Trenitalia rose to the challenge.

There is light at the end of the Chunnel, though. Gare du Nord is set for a major upgrade, thanks to a masterplan by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, to be completed in 2023. Meanwhile, the Eurostar terminal, currently painful to use, is getting a 15m makeover. So by November there will be a double-sized business lounge, designed by Softroom, which will be accessible from the expanded control area and lead directly to the boarding area. As for the WiFi, apparently it’s being tested, and one day should work for at least part of the route.

-----

What is good on board in Europe…

Trenitalia’s executive class, with just eight seats, full table service and a meeting room for working. If you book early enough, it costs the same as business class.

On Germany’s Inter City Express, the glass separation between the driver’s cabin and the first-class passenger area, for a 180-degree view.

A decent meal in your seat, such as on Spain’s AVE trains in preferente class.

Trenitalia’s pulizia a bordo service, which means that one or two cleaning staff walk up and down the trains during journeys, keeping the cabins and the toilets spick and span.

Healthy, fresh food, like the Italobox from Eataly, sadly no longer served on Italo trains.

A bow from the crew, as on the Shinkansen bullet trains in Japan, when entering or leaving your carriage. It shows your custom is valued.

Silent coaches, providing they are clearly labelled and properly policed.

Open WiFi, without having to provide your email address and signing up for marketing messages.

As originally featured in the June 2016 issue of Wallpaper* (W*207)

British swimwear label Orlebar Brown’s ‘Design

Make it snappy: British swimwear label Orlebar Brown’s ‘Design-Your-Own’ service lets you print your favourite picture onto swim shorts via its #SnapShorts app

(Image credit: Danae Diaz)

The slick Céleste d’Eric Schmitt collection

Material gain: the slick Céleste d’Eric Schmitt collection, in silver, alabaster, brass and marble, features the Fontainebleau-based designer’s signature curved forms

(Image credit: Danae Diaz)

INFORMATION

Illustrator: Danae Diaz

Also known as Picky Nicky, Nick Vinson has contributed to Wallpaper* Magazine for the past 21 years. He runs Vinson&Co, a London-based bureau specialising in creative direction and interiors for the luxury goods industry. As both an expert and fan of Made in Italy, he divides his time between London and Florence and has decades of experience in the industry as a critic, curator and editor.

Read more
Starline, a pan-European high-speed rail network
Meet Starline, the Europe-wide train of the future: grand plans needn’t be politically divisive
belmond vsoe
Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express wins Wallpaper* Design Award 2025
Tangerine's livery for the JR-East E10 Shinkansen service
Tangerine shapes the trains for Japan’s longest Shinkansen line, due in service in 2030
amsterdam eurostar travel W Hotel
The Amsterdam to London Eurostar route has reopened – here’s where to stay, eat and drink in the Dutch capital
seat maps
The enduring appeal of Transport for London’s seat designs
Andean Explorer-Peru
All aboard the world’s most luxurious train journeys
Latest in Transportation
Syd Mead, Future Pastime, 534 West 26th Street, New York
A new exhibition in New York presents the visionary artwork of the late Syd Mead
The new MG S5
Testing the solid and sensible mainstream logic of the new MGS5 EV
The fifth generation Toyota Prius
Why the Toyota Prius is the stealthiest and most discreet automotive choice you can make
Aston Martin Vanquish Volante
Aston Martin looks set to make a bigger splash with its new Vanquish Volante
Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre
Pure electric power in a velvet glove: meet the new Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre
smart #5 Summit Edition
The mash-up between Mercedes and Geely continues with the multi-functional smart #5
Latest in Buying-guide
Beauty products of the month WESTMAN ATELIER BRONZING DROPS
The best beauty products of the month, from Prada mascara to Westman Atelier’s bronzing drops
sustainable jewellery brands monica vinader
Sparkle in these sustainable jewellery brands to shop in 2025
Red beauty products on model Mona Tougaard
Red beauty products to gift the aesthete in your life this Valentine’s Day
oribe Hair Oil
The best hair oils for shiny, nourished and protected hair
Person's hand holding pen, ready to write in open travel journal
Shop hyperlocal gifts, from Harlem to Hawaii, at R Finds’ global online store
Best cookbooks for 2024
2024's best cookbooks to inspire and delight