Eurostar cancels up to one in five trains due to further strikes
Eurostar has been forced to cancel up to 20% of its train services on Wednesday and Thursday due to the latest planned walkout by SNCF rail workers in France.
The cross-Channel rail operator has published a list of cancelled trains between London, Paris, Brussels and Lille on its website.
Although Eurostar said it is planning to operate 80% of its trains tomorrow and Thursday, it is warning those passengers connecting onto domestic trains in France that their journeys might be disrupted by the industrial action.
Further strikes are planned in the near future, so Eurostar is advising passengers due to travel in the next few weeks to continue to check its website for updates.
The three months’ of rolling strike action began in April, so did not have an impact on Eurostar’s first quarter passenger numbers, which were up 4% to a record 2.36 million.
The train operator said sales revenues grew 9% to £253 million, with the growth during the first three months of the year underpinned by a 27% increase in passengers from the US and a 6% increase in business travel.
Eurostar said demand for its London St Pancras to Amsterdam and Rotterdam, which launched on April 4, had been strong.
Chief executive Mike Cooper said: "We have made a positive start to the year and reported a good performance in the first quarter buoyed up by growth in the US and business markets.
"Our new service from London to Amsterdam has met with an enthusiastic response and demand is strong as customers welcome this compelling alternative to the airlines."
Eurostar is now also offer passengers a range of hotels with special rates and benefits.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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