 Eurostar says it expects demand to remain strong in 2007 |
Channel Tunnel rail operator Eurostar has reported a record rise in sales and passenger numbers for 2006. Sales rose 11.7% to �518.3m (774m euros; $1bn) last year, while the number of travellers using the firm's services climbed 5.4% to 7.85 million.
Tightened airline security and foggy weather at UK airports in December, which caused widespread disruption to flights, helped lift Eurostar.
The firm forecast that demand for its services would remain strong in 2007.
"We expect 2007 to be another good year," said chief executive Richard Brown, adding that the Tour de France in July and the France-hosted Rugby World Cup in the autumn were already generating strong demand.
When launched, Eurostar was owned by French state-run railway operator SNCF, Belgium's SNCB and British Rail.
The UK interests are currently held by Eurostar UK.
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