EUROSTAR celebrated its 10th anniversary over last weekend. On 14 November 1994 the high speed link was inaugurated with two services each way between Waterloo and both Brussels and Paris. In the first ten months of this year, 6,046,455 passengers had travelled on Eurostar, up 16.2% on the same period last year (5,203,357). Expected sales in the first ten months of 2004 were ”364m, up 16% on the same period in 2003 (”315m). Eurostar's share of the rail/air market has also increased. According to figures from the CAA for August 2004, Eurostar had a market share of 68% on the London ” Paris route and 63% on the London ” Brussels route. The shares are the highest in Eurostar's history. Passengers have been attracted to Eurostar by strong punctuality and reliability, although the catering and service still lags behind the better airlines. Punctuality in the first ten months of 2004 was 89.2%, up 13% on the same period last year ” the best-ever punctuality figures recorded for the period. Qatar Airways is the latest of an enlarging list of carriers who will now ticket to London and back via Paris (or visa versa) including the connection on Eurostar.
http://www.eurostar.com