Olympic factor has Eurostar speeding up

Eurostar passenger numbers and sales revenue both rose in the first half of this year (AP)

Eurostar today said publicity from last summer’s Olympics saw a surge of passengers from the US, Australia and Brazil occupy its seats this year.

The Channel Tunnel rail route’s sales jumped 7% to £453 million in the first half of 2013, and it said that was partly thanks to the legacy of London 2012, as the number of bookings originating outside the EU grew by 17% in the first half of the year against a year earlier. The train operator said that “reflected the positive impact of Eurostar’s programme of promotional activity around the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which was designed to raise awareness of Eurostar services.”

Bad weather at the start of the year hit services but passenger numbers were up 4% in the second quarter.

Chief executive Nicolas Petrovic said: “Our new service to Provence has proved a great success with many services running at  full capacity.”