Eurostar has record traffic, higher sales

Eurostar has record traffic, higher sales
By Daisy Melwani


Eurostar says it’s seen record passenger traffic and 1.5 per cent higher sales on its trains operating between the UK and the continent during the second quarter of 2015.

The 2.8 million customers during the period from April through June was “the largest number of passengers ever carried on Eurostar in one quarter,” the company’s said in a statement, adding that the number of business travellers rose by 10 per cent.

Over all, Eurostar ticket sales increased 1.5 per cent compared to the same period last year to STG232 million ($A486.58 million), contributing to a two per cent rise for the full first semester of 2015.

The company said sales had dipped by two per cent in the first quarter due to the impact of jihadist attacks in Paris and closure of the Eurotunnel due to a fire.

Traffic on the network linking cities including London, Paris, Brussels and Lille was bolstered in the second quarter by more than 88,000 tickets sold on a new route launched in May between the UK capital and Lyon, Avignon and Marseille.

Seeking to accomodate and fuel continued passenger growth, Eurostar is preparing to add a new line of e320 trains with remodelled interiors and increased seating capacity by the end of 2015.

“With demand for our services at an all-time high we are looking forward to the arrival of our new trains,” said Eurostar CEO Nicolas Petrovic.

“The combination of state-of-the-art design, unrivalled comfort and 20 per cent extra seats means that we are well placed to meet the growing demand as passengers increasingly opt for high speed rail over plane.”

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