Eurostar reports busiest year yet

About 250,000 customers travelled with Eurostar over Christmas

Channel Tunnel high-speed rail company Eurostar says 2004 was its busiest year with 7.27 million passengers.

A busy Christmas period, in which 250,000 people used the service, helped boost the year's total, which was 15% higher than in 2003.

Eurostar, which operates out of London's Waterloo station, also reported significant rises in punctuality figures and sales.

The company said figures showed people recognised improvements to the service.

These record figures prove that business and leisure travellers have recognised the transformation in our service Eurostar's Paul Charles

It reported that 89.2% of trains arrived on time - 10.9% up on 2003 and an annual record.

And it said sales rose 15% last year to £433m.

Eurostar's communications director Paul Charles said: "Eurostar has set new, higher standards for short-haul carriers over the last year.

"These record figures prove that business and leisure travellers have recognised the transformation in our service.

"We are not seeing customers downgrade or switch to low-cost airlines - they are choosing to travel in high-speed comfort and style by train."

Another section of the rail link will be completed in 2007, when Eurostar will move from Waterloo to a new international station at St Pancras in London.

It is expected take a further 15 minutes off the fastest journeys.