More business passengers are choosing to travel by train

Eurostar said fewer business-class cabins on airlines meant more people had used its Business Premier service.

Overall, the firm said it took 71% of the London-Paris market and 64% of the London-Brussels market, beating rivals such as Air France and BA.

Sales at Eurostar were up 7% in 2005 to �464m ($820m).

"Our focus on business travellers is paying off," said Richard Brown, chief executive.

"As some airlines cut out their business-class cabins, they're also cutting out their customers."

Eurostar said it expected passenger to rise further this year thanks to the World Cup and the release of the film version of The Da Vinci Code novel.

The World Cup kicks off in Germany in June and the Da Vinci Code, much of which is set in Paris, is expected to lure more travellers to France's capital city.

In a separate statement on Monday, debt-laden channel tunnel operator Eurotunnel reported a 1% percent rise operating revenue last year to �541m, but said freight traffic had dropped.