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Wednesday, 18 July 2007, 12:12 GMT 13:12 UK

Eurostar gets green travel boost

Eurostar trains 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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Related to this story:
'Single' euro train fare planned (02 Jul 07 |  Business )
Eurostar to cut emissions by 25% (17 Apr 07 |  Business )
Bookings rise as flights grounded (22 Dec 06 |  England )
Airport woes boost Eurostar sales (11 Jan 07 |  Business )
High-speed rail link open in year (14 Nov 06 |  England )

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