Eurostar reports record traffic, increased second quarter sales

Eurostar on Tuesday reported record passenger traffic and 1.5 percent higher sales on its trains operating between the UK and the continent during the second quarter of 2015.

The 2.8 million customers during the period from April through June was "the largest number of passengers ever carried on Eurostar in one quarter," the company said in a statement, adding that the number of business travellers rose by 10 percent.

Overall, Eurostar ticket sales increased 1.5 percent compared to the same period last year to £232 million (334 million euros), contributing to a two percent rise for the full first semester of 2015.

The company said sales had dipped by two percent in the first quarter due to the impact of jihadist attacks in Paris and closure of the Eurotunnel due to a fire.

Traffic on the network linking cities including London, Paris, Brussels and Lille was bolstered in the second quarter by more than 88,000 tickets sold on a new route launched in May between the UK capital and Lyon, Avignon and Marseille.

Seeking to accomodate and fuel continued passenger growth, Eurostar is preparing to add a new line of e320 trains with remodelled interiors and increased seating capacity by the end of the year.

"With demand for our services at an all-time high we are looking forward to the arrival of our new trains," said Eurostar CEO Nicolas Petrovic.

"The combination of state-of-the-art design, unrivalled comfort and 20 per cent extra seats means that we are well placed to meet the growing demand as passengers increasingly opt for high speed rail over plane."