High speed rail service Eurostar has reported a good start to the year with continued growth in sales revenues and passenger numbers. 

In the first quarter of the year, sales revenues rose by 7% from £197 million to £211 million.  Passenger numbers also saw an increase to 2.24 million in Q1 2012 from 2.15 million in the same period last year.

The growth over the last three months has been driven by an increase in leisure travel with business travel in the first quarter of the year remaining broadly flat compared with 2011.

Nicolas Petrovic, Chief Executive of Eurostar, said: “The year got off to a strong start with sales revenues and passenger numbers on the up. 

“Our core destinations continue to be a big draw for passengers but we have also seen particularly good take-up of our Amsterdam fares as passengers are increasingly keen to try out new leisure destinations by high speed rail.” 

Looking ahead, London is gearing up for one its busiest ever summers as travellers flock to London to enjoy a range of attractions including the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations and the London 2012 Games and Festival.

Nicolas Petrovic continued: “We are gearing up for an exciting summer as the nation counts down to the London 2012 celebrations.  Bookings for the June bank holiday weekend are looking strong with thousands of visitors coming to London to enjoy the unique pageantry of the Queen’s Jubilee.”