REPORTING ITS first quarter results for 2007 on April 17, Eurostar announced a strong jump in traffic and revenue on its cross-Channel high speed trains. Passenger-journeys increased by 5?4% to 1?79 million, whilst sales revenues of ?142m were 13?2% ahead of the same period in 2006.

Contributing to the higher yield was a 14?5% increase in Business travellers, which generated an 18?2% rise in business ticket revenue. Eurostar also reported 'exceptionally high growth' in sales of through tickets to southern France.Leisure travel grew by 4?2%, thanks in part to an 18?4% growth in Leisure Select ridership.