Eurostar sees rise in revenue
Eurostar saw a 12% increase in sales revenue last year to £760m, due largely to a recovery in the business travel market.
Passenger numbers were up just a little over 3%. The cross-Channel rail operator said there had been a growth in the number of passengers defecting from the airlines to the trains for short hops to Europe.
Overall, Eurostar carried 9.5 million passengers in 2010 compared with 9.2m in 2009.
It plans to invest £700m this year in its fleet, including the purchase of 10 new trains, the e320s which will extend Eurostar’s reach beyond its main routes of London – Paris and London – Brussels.
Chief executive Nicolas Petrovic said: "With the expansion of new routes and services we are witnessing a real renaissance in rail travel.
"As the key link between the UK and the continent we see considerable potential for growth and expansion in an open-access world."
The new trains will carry more than 900 passengers at speeds of up to 320km an hour from London direct to Amsterdam, Cologne, Lyon and Marseille.
By Linsey McNeill
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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