Eurostar has seen strong demand for its new service to the south of France via Lyon and reported a pick-up in business travel last year, when the business celebrated its 20th anniversary.
The cross-channel rail firm, whose new high-speed e320 trains will start running at the end of this year, said passenger numbers rose 3% to 10.4m in 2014. This brought the total number of passengers travelling on Eurostar since the start of services in 1994 to over 150m.
The recovery in the UK economy spurred an increase in business travel bookings, which climbed 4% last year. Overall sales in 2014 edged up 1% to £687m, lifting underlying operating profits 2% to £55m.
Tickets for the new all year-round direct service to Avignon and Marseille, which begins on 1 May, have been popular since they went on sale in mid-December. Return fares start from £99 for a journey that takes under six hours to Avignon and just over six to Marseille.
Eurostar is investing more than £1bn in its fleet, with 17 new trains due to start service over the next three years. The e320 trains will be able to carry 900 passengers each, a fifth more than current trains, and are capable of speeds of 320kmh (200mph). The current restriction is 300kmh and the trains slow to 160kmh in the Channel tunnel.
The interiors and external livery have been designed by Italy’s Pininfarina, known for its car designs for Ferrari and Maserati. The Turin design house will also refurbish the existing fleet, from toilets to buffet bars.
