Eurostar revenue ticks upward after a busy summer
Eurostar has recorded a modest increase in third quarter revenues after its busiest ever August.
The cross-channel rail company today reported a three per cent increase in sales revenue to £254m in the three months to 30 September.
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This was on the back of a four per cent increase in passenger volumes to 3.1m over the quarter.
The company said more than 1 million passengers travelled in August, marking its largest ever volume for the month.
The results were underpinned by a 16 per cent rise in customers from North American in the period.
Eurostar chief executive Mike Cooper said: “We have seen positive momentum over the summer with strong growth in the number of North American passengers choosing to travel by high speed rail.
“With our 25th anniversary later this year and the growing demand for sustainable travel we and our customers have an exciting time ahead.”
Potential Eurostar expansion
The company said it was optimistic about future growth in passenger volumes as environmentally sustainable travel becomes more popular in the UK.
It may also see opportunities for increased capacity in the future, with Eurostar looking to expand its reach to Germany and South-West France.
Currently, Eurostar travels from London to Calais, Paris, Lille, Lyons, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
However, it is considering merging with French-Belgian train operator Thalys to create an intergrated network across five countries, according to The Times.
It would allow passengers to travel directly from the UK to German such as Cologne, Düsseldorf, Essen, Aachen and Dortmund.
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A London-to-Bordeaux train would also operate under the plan.
The plan – codenamed Green Speed – would increase annual passenger numbers from 18.5m to 30m.