Eurostar Overcomes Economic Environment to Report Strong 2012 Figures

Eurostar has reported a strong performance in 2012 marked by rising passenger numbers and good growth in profitability. Despite the difficult economic backdrop, passenger numbers for the year ended December 31st 2012 rose two percent from 9.7 million to 9.9 million.

While business travel remained flat, the uplift in passengers was underpinned by continuing resilience in the leisure travel market as the number of leisure passengers grew by three percent compared to the previous year.

The number of international travellers originating outside the EU has shown particularly strong growth during 2012, with volumes up eight percent year-on-year.

Responding to the difficult European economic environment, Eurostar has invested heavily in its international marketing capitalizing on London’s year in the spotlight with the Jubilee celebrations and a summer of sporting action.

In 2011 Eurostar delivered its first profit in its first full year of operation as a standalone company. Continuing this momentum, the business today reports an operating profit of £52.3 million in 2012, up from £25.0 million in 2011.  

This growth in profitability is driven by an increase in the volume of passengers combined with strong cost management across the business. Sales revenues in 2012 were broadly flat year-on-year at £799 million versus £803 million in 2011. The sales revenues were, however, heavily impacted by the movements in exchange rates over the year. At constant (€1.15) exchange rates, sales revenues increased by five percent.