Eurostar saw a 20 per cent decrease in passenger numbers in
the first quarter of 2020, partially due to the impact of a strike by SNCF
workers in January and travel restrictions imposed by the UK, French and Belgian
governments to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The high-speed European railway carried just under 2 million
passengers in the first quarter, compared to nearly 2.4 million in 2019.
The slump in traffic contributed to a 9 per cent drop in
revenue for Eurotunnel parent company Getlink, with railway network revenue in particular
down 8 per cent to €66.6 million.
Car journeys through the Eurotunnel were down 14 per cent in
the first quarter, while coach traffic fell 30 per cent in the same period.
Rail freight traffic was also down 18 per cent.
Getlink chairman and group CEO said: “Travel restrictions
linked to the current health crisis have affected the group’s traffic and
revenue in similar proportions to comparable modes of transport. In the coming
weeks, the group will build on its key strength linked to the supply of
essential products to the United Kingdom and France. Having reacted immediately
by implementing protective measures and reducing costs, the group is ready to
meet the expectations of its customers following the ending of lockdown.”