Eurostar, the fast train service linking London with Paris and Brussels, has reported a 17% rise in business travellers using the service.
The high speed train company cited rising air fares, re-furbished trains which now had on-board power sockets and “strong” punctuality, now up to 86%, as reason why customers were switching.
The train company said the number of passenger using Eurostar in the first six months of 2005 rose by 8% from 3.41m to 3.68m compared to the same period for 2004.
Sales rose in the same year on year period by 14% from £214m to 245m.
Eurostar said in May 2005, it carried nearly 70% of passengers of passengers on the London-Paris route and nearly 63% of those on the London-Brussels route.
Its closest competitors on the Pairs run were Air France (12.29%) and BA (10.61%). Other airlines operating on the route, among them bmi and easyJet, carried fewer than 5% each.
Eurostar said growth on the Brussels route had been “particularly strong.” BA/SN Brussels was the main competitor with a 21.57% share followed by bmi with 13.28% of the market.
Paul Charles, Eurostar's director of communications, said that more business travellers were using the service because it offered “city-centre to city-centre convenience” as well as a fast check-in.
He also said that because of rising fuel prices some air fares had increased by as much as £16 added to short haul flights.
Eurostar is due to launch its new re-vamped service in September with classes tailored for the business and leisure traveller. This includes a Business Premier class with a ten minute check-in, use of lounge and a separate carriage on route for those who wished to work.
It also plans to move into its new London station, St.Pancras International in 2007 when travel times will be cut to one hour 15 minutes to Brussels and two hours 15 minutes to Paris.
Ticketless travel is also likely to be introduced at the same time.