Eurostar revenues jump on business travel demand

A high-speed Eurostar train leaves the Channel tunnel near the Eurotunnel terminal of Coquelles near Calais, northern France, July 1, 2010. (REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol )

Eurostar has posted a 7 per cent increase in sales boosted by strong demand for business travel during the first three months of the year.

Chief executive Nicolas Petrovic said: “The improvement we have seen in the corporate travel market in recent months underpins the strong performance reported today.”

During the period business premier class passenger volumes soared 6 per cent and total sales revenues were up 7 per cent year-on-year to £227 million. Overall passenger numbers through the Channel Tunnel rail route, which also serves Calais and Disneyland Paris, were ahead 3 per cent to 2.3 million even though the Easter holidays fell outside the first quarter.

Petrovic said: “Coupled with the benign winter weather which saw far lower levels of weather-related disruption, the first quarter has set us on course for continued growth throughout the year.” The group has invested in new station improvements and he said 2014, its 20th year, is “gearing up to be a watershed moment in Eurostar’s history.”