Eurotunnel sees record numbers of trucks, cars over summer

Groupe Eurotunnel reported a record August for trucks through the Channel Tunnel on Wednesday, confirming 127,729 heavy goods vehicles on Le Shuttle Freight services during the month - an increase of 1% year-on-year.

The Euronext London and Paris-traded company, which owns and operates the subterranean rail link between England and France, said that in the year-to-date, 1,080,000 trucks had used Le Shuttle Freight.

In terms of passenger vehicles, Eurotunnel said traffic increased 3% year-on-year in August with 361,902 vehicles carried.

“[This closed] a summer during which Eurotunnel set new traffic records for Le Shuttle Passenger service, with almost 564,000 vehicles carried over the period from 17 July to 3 September,” Groupe Eurotunnel’s board said in its statement.

“Since 1 January 2017, Le Shuttle Passenger traffic has decreased slightly with 1,832,356 vehicles transported.”

Eurotunnel figures do not include passengers using the Eurostar high speed services out of London St Pancras, as they are operated by the privately-held Eurostar International using Eurotunnel’s infrastructure.