Eurostar says outlook is ‘encouraging’ despite drop in third quarter traffic
Eurostar today claimed it was beginning to see a recovery from this year’s terror attacks in France as passenger numbers over the past eight weeks have risen year on year.
It said the rise followed a ‘challenging period’ in which demand was dampened by the terrorist attack in Nice at the end of July.
A fall in sterling also prompted a rise in the number of French passengers coming to the UK during October half term, with traffic up 18% year on year.
Overall, passenger numbers in the third quarter 2016 were down 10% compared to last year at 2.6 million and sales revenues were 8% lower year-on-year at £184 million.
Chief executive Nicolas Petrovic said: "After a softening in demand over the summer, we saw an increase in travel from the continent to London during the half term holiday.~
"With the weakening of the pound, the UK is proving to be an attractive destination. The outlook to the end of the year is encouraging with many travellers taking day trips to London to do their Christmas shopping."
Looking ahead to next year, he said plans for a new direct route to Amsterdam are progressing well.
The first phase of testing of the new Eurostar e320 train on the Dutch network was completed earlier this year and the next set of tests are scheduled for early 2017.
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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