Eurostar’s passenger numbers rise 3%

Eurostar has seen a 3% rise in passenger numbers for the third quarter of the year with sales revenue up 2%.

The rail operator carried 2.8 million people in the three months up to 30 September 2014 with revenue up to £211 million.

Its premium traffic helped the numbers along with bookings in Business Premier up 6% year-on-year.

Nicolas Petrovic, chief executive of Eurostar, said: “After 20 years of leading the way in cross channel high speed rail travel our sights are now set on expanding further afield and making rail the obvious choice for short haul travel. With passenger numbers and sales revenues increasing year-on-year we are well placed for the next phase of growth.”

This has already seen the rail operator launch winter ski routes into the French Alps, Swiss Alps and Geneva. Next May it will introduce a year-round service to Provence in May 2015 stopping at Lyon, Avignon and Marseille.

Then in 2016 a new direct service will run to Amsterdam, stopping at Antwerp, Rotterdam and Schiphol Airport along the way.

Eurostar will offer direct services to Amsterdam from 2016
Eurostar will offer direct services to Amsterdam from 2016
Eurostar is now gearing up to celebrate its 20th anniversary on 14 November, and will showcase its new e320 train at St Pancras International the day before.

Each new train will boost capacity by 20% carrying 900 passengers and reaching speeds up to 320kph (200mph).

Petrovic said: “Over the next two years our customers will see a complete transformation of our service as we upgrade and enhance every stage of the passenger journey. By making a substantial investment in our fleet, we are sending a strong signal about the ambition for the business and our commitment to delivering an exceptional experience for our passengers.”

sourced:traveldailymedia.com