Strong Q3 2011 for Eurostar

Eurostar delivered a solid performance in Q3 2011 with sales revenues up 7% (£197m in 2011 vs £183m in 2010).

Year to date, total sales revenue figures have grown by 5% compared to the same period in 2010 (£617m in 2011 vs £588m in 2010).

The total number of passengers travelling on Eurostar services between January and September 2011, rose by 1% compared to the same period last year (7.3m in 2011 vs 7.2m in 2010) and excluding the estimated impact of the ash cloud disruption in 2010, the underlying increase in passenger numbers for the year to date was 3%.

Nicolas Petrovic, Chief Executive, Eurostar, said, "We have delivered a solid performance during both the third quarter and the year as a whole although the tough trading environment across Europe demands a cautious watching brief. Since the beginning of the year we have seen growth in both our sales revenues and passenger numbers reinforcing our popularity with regular and new travellers alike."

In spite of an uncertain economic climate, Business Premier sales revenues grew 2% in Q3 2011 vs Q3 2010 and the number of leisure travellers for the year to date grew by 2%.

Eurostar enjoyed strong growth in international passenger numbers, up 21% for the year to date and 15% for the third quarter compared with same periods in 2010.

Despite the global economic backdrop, London and Europe continues to be a big draw for international travellers. With London 2012 now less than a year away, Eurostar anticipates increased interest in the UK as a destination as the world's focus turns to the Games next year.

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