Eurostar Predicts 30% Surge in Bookings as Jubilee Weekend Approaches

LONDON, May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Thousands of Brits are taking advantage of the double bank holiday to take an extended mini break, while thousands of our European cousins will visit London to enjoy the Jubilee celebrations, as royal fever spreads across the continent.

Friday 1 June is set to be Eurostar's busiest day with over 30,000 passengers expected to travel between the UK and mainland Europe on that day alone. To meet this heightened demand Eurostar is adding 10 extra services, but with tickets selling fast travellers are encouraged to book quickly.

As tens of thousands of people are set to visit London for the Jubilee celebrations, some Brits are taking advantage of the extended bank holiday and the recent strengthening of the pound against the euro to enjoy a long weekend away. Eurostar has seen a 46% surge in bookings for people leaving the UK over the bank holiday weekend, compared to the Royal Wedding bank holiday weekend last year**, with destinations like Avignon, Bruges and Amsterdam proving popular with travellers.

Nick Mercer, Commercial Director for Eurostar said: "The Queen's Diamond Jubilee will start a once in a lifetime year of celebrations for the capital, with the London 2012 Festival and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer. London is the hottest destination this year and it's fantastic that so many people from across Europe are travelling with us to join both the Jubilee and Olympic celebrations. At the same time, for those Brits who want to take advantage of the Jubilee double bank holiday, there's still time to book that trip to Paris, Avignon, Lyon, Bruges and many more destinations with the extra services we're running."

The Queen opened the Channel Tunnel and Waterloo International station in 1994 as well as St Pancras International station in 2007. Her Majesty travelled with Eurostar in May 1994 and April 2004 to Paris and July 2007 to Brussels.

For more information, to book Eurostar tickets or purchase Eurostar gift vouchers visit http://www.eurostar.com.

Notes to Editors:

*Period from Friday 1 June to Wednesday 6 June 2012, compared to period from Friday 3 June to Wednesday 8 June 2011.

**Period from Friday 1 June to Wednesday 6 June 2012, compared to period from Thursday 28h April to Tuesday 3 May 2011.

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, offering trouble-free travel to those wishing to enjoy Paris City Breaks, cheap tickets to Paris and Brussels city breaks, as well as offering a London to Amsterdam train for those keen to try an Amsterdam City Break.

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 115 million passengers between London and the Continent via the Channel tunnel. Following their refurbishment these trains will continue to form a core part of the Eurostar fleet.

PR contact:
Aude Criqui
Senior Press Officer
Eurostar Press Office
Times House
Regent Quarter
Bravingtons Walk
London
N1 9AW
+44(0)20-7843-5405
http://www.eurostar.com