Leisure sales have boosted passenger numbers and revenue at Eurostar this year, it has revealed.
The rail operator’s half-year results show 2% more passengers to 4.8 million and a 1% growth in revenue to £425m. While public holidays and concentrated company spend had weakened business travel in the second quarter, leisure travel increased from both the UK and French markets. Foreign tourists in both the UK and France had also boosted figures.
“The combination of economic pressures and the London 2012 Games has meant that we are seeing different travel patterns this year,” said Nicolas Petrovic, chief executive of Eurostar. “The traditional European summer close-down for business is kicking in earlier as all eyes turn to the Olympic celebrations in London”.
Eurostar is now gearing up to hold its ‘Traction’ event this Saturday as part of the London 2012 celebrations. The company has adapted its trains to allow the French and Belgian Paralympic teams to travel together for the games. Two of its trains will stay adapted to accommodate up to 18 wheelchair users.
See the video above on how it made the changes.
