Eurostar passenger numbers jump a record 22 per cent
The cross-Channel rail operator said it carried 18.6 million passengers in 2023
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Eurostar said its passenger numbers increased by more than a fifth last year.
The rail operator said it carried 18.6 million passengers in 2023.
That’s a rise of 22 per cent on the previous 12 months and is a return to levels last seen in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic.
Eurostar operates direct and indirect routes between the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
The year-on-year increases on Eurostar’s three main routes serving London St Pancras were Amsterdam (up 38 per cent), Brussels (up 33 per cent) and Paris (up 25 per cent).
Eurostar chief executive Gwendoline Cazenave said: “Eurostar is growing and in 2023 we welcomed many more customers on board across our five countries.
“Our goal is to encourage more people to take the train so it’s a win for customers and a win for the planet.
“We have a bold vision to reach 30 million passengers by 2030, and growth in 2023 of 22 per cent versus 2022 shows we are strongly on our way.
“We carried almost eight million passengers between London and France, 1.1 million between the Netherlands and the UK, and 2.2 million to Belgium.”
The operator expects to carry nearly two million passengers to Paris during this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Eurostar may soon face competition after holding a monopoly for rail travel between London and Paris for three decades, according to an internal rail expert
Mark Smith believes the introduction of a rival “keeps everyone on their toes” and would see cuts in fares, telling The Independent: “I’ll believe it when I see it, but this time it may well happen.”
Mr Smith, founder of the rail website Seat61.com, was responding to news that a company named Evolyn has agreed to buy a dozen trains to use between the British and French capitals from 2025 onwards.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments