The certification covers the operation of the 399m-long 16-car trains at up to 320km/h on the French high-speed network.

The fleet of 17 trains is due to be introduced next month and the e320s will initially be deployed on services from London to Paris and Brussels. The trains will also be certified for operation in the Netherlands in readiness for the launch of Eurostar services from London to Amsterdam in early 2017.

EPSF granted a supplementary authorisation to place into service for the technically-similar German Rail (DB) class 407 Velaro D fleet in March.