Eurostar achieves 95% punctuality

Eurostar, the high-speed passenger service that links the UK and mainland Europe, has achieved almost 95% punctuality in the first full two weeks since the restoration of faster journeys through the Channel Tunnel.

For the fortnight ending yesterday, Eurostar achieved 94.7% of trains on time or within 15 minutes of schedule (the standard measure for international services), ahead of its overall target of 93% punctuality for 2009. It was Eurostar’s first two weeks of operating a full timetable since the incident in the Channel Tunnel six months ago.

Richard Brown, Chief Executive, Eurostar said, “I’m really pleased we’re back to full speed and delivering the reliable service that our travellers want. It means business travellers can rely on Eurostar for short journey times, convenient city centre stations, and a reliable service that gets them there and back without staying overnight.

“For leisure travellers, high-speed rail’s the best way to escape and have an adventure in European cities that are so different, yet so close to home.”

Eurostar’s lead-in return fare of £59 has now gone unchanged since March 2003 and, besides punctuality, is another key reason why travellers choose rail over the higher prices and hidden costs of flying.

Average punctuality for Eurostar in 2008 was 92.4%, against 65.4% for the airlines operating on its routes according to Civil Aviation Authority data.

A new direct service between Ashford International and Brussels is part of the full timetable that Eurostar is now operating.