Eurostar expects over 128,000 passengers during Easter bank holiday weekend

• Over 128,000 passengers are booked to travel on Eurostar over the Easter bank holiday weekend – a 4% rise year on year
• Friday 25th March is the busiest day for UK departures – a 17% increase compared to Easter Friday last year
• New trains feature free wifi and on board entertainment system for all passengers

LONDON, 2016-Mar-23 — /Travel PR News/ — Eurostar is set for a busy Easter bank holiday weekend as over 128,000 passengers are expected to travel with the high-speed rail operator – a 4%  rise in passenger numbers compared to the equivalent period in 2015*.

Friday 25th March is the busiest day for departures from the UK, with over 22,000 people travelling on this day alone, looking to make the most of long weekend – a 17%increase compared to Easter Friday last year.

Paris is the most popular destination, with over 21,000 Brits escaping the UK for a mini break in France’s capital.

Mary Walsh, Director of Communications for Eurostar commented: “Our station and on board teams are looking forward to welcoming passengers as they set off on holidays for the Easter weekend. With the launch of free wifi and over 300 hours of popular on board entertainment across our new fleet, there’s never been a better time to take the train to mainland Europe.”

With increased seat capacity on the new e320 train, Eurostar is now offering its most competitive fares ever.  The combination of a  lead-in price of £29 one way to Paris/Brussels/Lille and fares from £37 to hundreds of destinations across France, Holland and Belgium, makes Eurostar the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to travel between the UK and mainland Europe.

For more information or to book Eurostar tickets visit www.eurostar.com or call the Eurostar contact centre on 08432 186 186.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

• *Period from Friday 25 March 2016 – Monday 28 March 2016 compared to Friday 3 April 2015 – Monday 6 April 2015
• Customers travelling by Eurostar can enjoy a range of benefits including:
• Seamless city centre to city centre travel, with stations located in the heart of our destinations
• Fast and convenient check-in – passengers are asked to arrive only 30 minutes before departure (or 10 minutes if travelling Business Premier)
• Generous, free-of-charge baggage allowance with each passengers allowed 2 bags/suitcases and 1 piece of hand luggage
• No queues or baggage reclaim upon arrival – simply take your bag with you on board
• Comfort and space on board to work or unwind

About Eurostar

• Eurostar is the high-speed train service linking St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International, Paris, Brussels, Lille, Calais, Disneyland Resort Paris, Avignon and the French Alps.
• The current Eurostar train was first introduced into service in 1994 carrying 750 passengers and operating at speeds of up to 300kph.  Since then, the fleet of 28 trains has carried more than 150 million passengers between London and the Continent.  Following their refurbishment these trains will continue to form a core part of the Eurostar fleet. The new e320 will carry around 900 passengers at speeds of up to 320kph.
• Eurostar was established in 1994 as a partnership between three railway companies: SNCF, SNCB and LCR (London and Continental Railways). On 1 September 2010, Eurostar became a single, unified corporate entity owned by three shareholders: SNCF, SNCB and LCR. LCR’s holding was transferred to the Treasury in 2014, and sold by the UK government to a consortium comprising Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec (CDPQ) and Hermes Infrastructure on 28th May 2015.
• Eurostar is a founder member of Railteam, a partnership between Europe’s leading high-speed train operators that is developing simpler ways to book and travel on the fast-expanding, European high-speed rail network.
• Eurostar and Eurotunnel are entirely separate companies.  Eurostar operates high-speed passenger trains, while Eurotunnel operates vehicle shuttle services and the Channel Tunnel itself. Eurostar is Eurotunnel’s biggest customer.

For more information:

Eurostar Press Office 

020 7843 5500

press.office@eurostar.com