Eurostar reports increase in sales and passenger numbers in first half of 2010
by 18% to GBP404 million during the first half of 2010
reported a 6% rise in passenger numbers and an 18% increase in revenue during
the first six months of 2010. This growth is due in part to the impact of the
ash cloud disruption* but also reflects a strengthening of the business market
and an underlying increase in both business and leisure travellers during the
period.
Over the last six months there has been a notable increase in the number of passengers
choosing
journey times to the South of France, Germany and the Netherlands** are prompting
customers to take advantage of the ease and comfort of city centre to city centre
travel.
The number of international passengers is also on the increase as visitors from
the US and Australia in particular see travelling by Eurostar as an integral part
of their European tour. June reported a very strong performance in international
sales revenues which were up 24% in comparison to the same period last year.
To meet the increase in demand for its services over the summer, Eurostar has
announced that during August it will put on 20 extra trains – four each weekend
– to and from Paris with every seat available at a special price of GBP69 return.
Nicolas Petrovic, Chief Executive of Eurostar, said:”Over the last six months,
we have delivered strong growth in both business and leisure bookings. As the
economic environment has strengthened we have seen uplift in the business market
and an overall increase in the number of passengers travelling.
“Whilst our core routes continue to be busy more and more people are opting to
travel further afield and explore new destinations by train. Forward bookings
are looking strong and with the increasing appetite for high speed rail travel
in Europe, the trend looks set to continue.”
Notes to Editors:
*During the ash cloud disruption Eurostar put on 70 extra trains and carried
100,000 more passengers than were scheduled to travel at that time.
** Eurostar is the high-speed train service linking St Pancras International,
Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International, Paris, Brussels, Lille, Calais,
About Eurostar:
Eurostar is the high-speed rail service directly linking the UK to France and
Belgium via the Channel Tunnel. The fastest London-Paris Eurostar journey time
is 2 hours 15 minutes, London-Brussels 1 hours 51 minutes and London-Lille just
1 hour 20 minutes. Eurostar offers
Eurostar is a founder member of Railteam, a partnership between Europe’s leading
high-speed train operators that is developing simpler ways to book and travel
on the fast-expanding, European high-speed rail network.
Eurostar and Eurotunnel are entirely separate companies. Eurostar operates high-speed
passenger trains, while Eurotunnel operates vehicle shuttle services and the Channel
Tunnel itself. Eurostar is Eurotunnel’s biggest customer.