Eurostar enjoys record passenger numbers
The numbers of people travelling on the Channel Tunnel high-speed Eurostar trains reached record levels in the first part of this year, it was announced today.
The company carried just over 1.02 million passengers on its London to Paris and Brussels services in the first two months of 2004.
This was a 20% increase on the January-February 2003 figure.
Numbers were boosted by new reduced fares and the decision by some airlines to axe some French and Belgian services.
The opening last September of the first section of the Channel Tunnel high-speed rail link through Kent boosted punctuality.
A record 92.2% of trains arrived on time or early last month, compared with 70.8% in February 2003.
Eurostar communications director Paul Charles said: “It is clear that travellers are deserting airlines on our routes – they are voting with their feet and choosing comfortable high-speed rail travel to Europe. Airlines are struggling to compete with Eurostar’s high levels of punctuality and frequency of service.”
