Eurostar sees increase in international tourists
Eurostar has seen an increased growth in passengers from countries outside Europe.
The rail service between the UK and Europe reported overall passenger numbers up 2% to 9.9 million in its year end results to December 2012.
But growth from non-European countries like the US, Brazil and Australia was up 8%.
This follows the rail company’s investment in international marketing ahead of the Jubilee celebrations and the London Olympics.
Eurostar said although business travel remained flat, the leisure market was resilient, growing by 3% compared with the previous year.
Nicolas Petrovic, chief executive of Eurostar, said: "Growth in traveller numbers was particularly strong in the fourth quarter of the year as European and international travellers flocked to the capital."
Its operating profit was £52.3 million in 2012, up from £25.0 million in 2011.
Eurostar is investing £700 million creating a new fleet of trains and refurbishing its existing fleet.
Both are being designed by Pininfarina, the world-famous Italian design house and a completely new fleet should be in place by 2015.
A new partnership with international high-speed train operator TGV Lyria means ski enthusiasts can benefit from a weekly service between London and some of Switzerland’s most popular ski resorts.
Eurostar will also be trialling a direct service to Lyon and Provence from May.
Diane
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