4 March 2020

Eurostar reports on 2019 performance

Eurostar, the high-speed passenger rail service between the UK and mainland Europe, today reported on its 2019 results - a year in which the company celebrated its 25^th anniversary.

In 2019 overall passenger numbers on Eurostar increased by 1.7% (11.1m 2019: 11m 2018), sales revenues were slightly lower (£987m 2019: £989m 2018) impacted by industrial action in France during the year. The preliminary unaudited operating profit for 2019 was £92m.

North America continued to be a key market for Eurostar with travellers from the region valuing the speed and convenience of using high-speed rail as part of their European getaway. The number of North American customers grew by 17% in 2019 compared with the previous year as visitors looked to experience some of Europe’s best known capital cities.

UK to the Netherlands in just three hours
Earlier this year, Eurostar announced that its London-Amsterdam service will operate fully direct between the Netherlands and the UK from 30 April with a journey time of just three hours from Rotterdam to London and four hours from Amsterdam to London.

Tickets went on sale on 11 February and the new route is proving popular. This is testament to the growing popularity of high speed rail over plane as customers increasingly favour the comfort, ease and sustainability of travelling by train.

With a trip from London to Amsterdam resulting in 80% less carbon per passenger than the equivalent flight¹, Eurostar is offering the most sustainable choice for short haul European travel. Passengers travelling with Eurostar are also actively supporting the reforestation of woodland in Europe with a tree planted for every service it operates.

Mike Cooper, CEO, Eurostar, said: “At a time when sustainable travel is front of mind for customers, the launch of our direct service both to and from the Netherlands marks an important milestone. This service which connects some of Europe’s most exciting cities has met with a positive response.”

Special offer on spring city breaks
To encourage passengers to take a spring break in Europe, Eurostar is offering great value seats for travel between 23 March to 17 June 2020. Customers can head to Paris, Brussels or Lille for just £29 and to the iconic cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam for £35 each way with no additional charges for seats or luggage.

Passengers seeking to travel in style can take advantage on the Standard Premier offer and enjoy more space as well as a light meal and refreshments onboard for just £70 one way.

-ends-
Definitions:

• Sales revenue is the value of ticket bookings made during the period. This revenue is only recognised in the income statement at the date on which the passenger actually travels.
• Passenger volumes reflect the number of travellers carried by Eurostar in the period.

Notes to editors:

• ¹Calculations carried out for Eurostar by Paul Watkiss Associates in 2017, based on DEFRA methodology.
• Eurostar offers seamless city-centre to city-centre travel, check-in up to 30 minutes before departure and a generous baggage allowance with no weight restrictions.
• Eurostar launched a direct service from London to Rotterdam and Amsterdam in April 2018, with a return journey connecting through Brussels where passport controls and security screening are carried out.
• This connecting journey was a temporary measure whilst the governments of the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands completed an agreement to enable passport checks to be conducted on departure in the Netherlands as in other key Eurostar destinations. The agreement is now in place to allow direct return journeys from Amsterdam from 30^th April 2020 and Rotterdam from 18^th May 2020.

For more information:
Eurostar Press Office 
020 7843 5500
press.office@eurostar.co.uk