London, November 14, 2024 – Eurostar, the European high-speed rail service, is proud to celebrate its 30th anniversary this month. Eurostar is celebrating by offering 30% off all bookings and travel classes. Since its inaugural journey on November 14, 1994, Eurostar has revolutionised the world of transport, making it quick and easy for millions of passengers to travel from city centre to city centre in Europe.  

Over the past three decades, Eurostar has seen remarkable growth: 

• The number of passengers has multiplied by 6, from 3 million in 1994/95 to 18.6 million in 2023 

• More than 380 million passengers have travelled on Eurostar's routes since 1994 

• 61 million dishes have been served in Eurostar's Business Premier, Standard Premier, and Premium services, with 3 million served in 2023 alone 

• 5 million glasses of Champagne have been served to Business Premier travellers since 1994, with 230,000 served in 2023 

"For the past 30 years, Eurostar has been at the forefront of high-speed rail, revolutionising the way people travel between the UK and the continent," said Gwendoline Cazenave, CEO of Eurostar.  

"As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we reflect on our Merger with Thalys that we’re now connecting customers to France, The Netherlands, Brussels and Germany. Our success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team across Europe. " 

Eurostar has pioneered several rail industry firsts, including: 

• The first to offer Wi-Fi on board Thalys trains in 2007 

• The first to provide fast-track check-in in London, Paris, and Brussels 

• The first to open exclusive lounges with cocktail bars in London and Paris 

• The first to elevate train travel into a fine dining experience with a collective of chefs and a sommelier on board 

And what a chapter it promises to be. Eurostar has set its sights on increasing passenger numbers from 19 million to 30 million by 2030 with plans to expand its fleet and network to reach new heights. 

"Our raison d'être has always been to connect Europeans beyond borders," added Cazenave. "As we look to the future, we remain dedicated to growth, developing new connections with our open hubs, enhancing our services, and leading the way in sustainable transportation.” 

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NOTES TO EDITOR  

• Eurostar aims to carry 30 million passengers a year by 2030 and become the backbone for sustainable travel in Europe  

• With a fleet of 51 trains, Eurostar offers the largest international high-speed network in Western Europe, serving 28 destinations in Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. In 2023, Eurostar carried 18.6 million passengers and generated sales of €2 billion 

• In 2024, Eurostar announced its intention to buy up to 50 new trainsets     

• Eurostar is owned by SNCF Voyages Développement (55.75%), a subsidiary of SNCF Voyageurs, CDPQ (19.31%), SNCB (18.50%) and funds managed by Federated Hermes Infrastructure (6.44%)  

Eurostar Press Office  

press.office@eurostar.com