 Climate concerns are making the train more attractive, says Eurostar |
Eurostar passenger numbers rose in the first half of the year, driven by people switching from planes to trains to curb pollution, the firm said. From the start of January to the end of June, 3.91 million people used Eurostar between London, Paris and Brussels, up 4.8% from the same time a year earlier.
As a result, sales increased 13.6% to �295.7m ($605m; 439m euros).
Chief executive Richard Brown that as well as "green" concerns, the firm got a boost from more business travellers.
Passenger growth was driven by a 13% jump in business travel, the Channel Tunnel passenger train operator added.
Eurostar chairman Guillaume Pepy echoed the sentiment, saying that more people now view trains as less polluting and so more environmentally-friendly.
"It's just the beginning but I have no doubt decisions by individuals as well as companies are changing," he said.
"An increasing number of big companies are advising their personnel to use the train for short distances."
Looking ahead, the firm said it expects numbers to increase further when its service swaps from London's Waterloo station to St Pancras - a move that will cut journey times between London and Paris by 25 minutes.
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