Eurostar turns 30 with 380 million passengers and 30% discount

Eurostar celebrates its 30th anniversary on Thursday. On November 14, 1994, Eurostar’s high-speed trains carried passengers through the Channel Tunnel between the United Kingdom and mainland Europe for the first time.

Eurostar has become a significant player in the European rail landscape in three decades, carrying more than 380 million passengers.

To 30 million passengers a year

Last year, 18,6 million passengers were transported. That includes the passengers of the former Thalys, which has since been merged with Eurostar. The Eurostar network covers five countries: Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Eurostar aims to reach 30 million passengers by 2030 and deploy 50 new trains, partly to renew its fleet and partly to expand it from 51 to 67 trains.

Soon, new connections?

Furthermore, Eurostar is exploring new connections from hub locations such as London and Brussels. Brussels-Midi is the center of the Eurostar network, with major destinations such as London, Paris, and Amsterdam less than two hours away by rail.

Trains are also managed from an operational center in Brussels, where the Eurostar Group’s headquarters are located.

Meanwhile, the French-speaking Socialists have tabled a proposal in the Chamber to give the Brussels-South station the status of an “international station.” The station has suffered insecurity problems in recent years. Giving it this international status would give it more resources to restore its image. At the same time, the PS is also calling for more federal contributions, for example, for more police resources.

Promo actions

For its 30th anniversary, Eurostar is also launching various actions. Until November 14, travelers can save up to 30% on journeys to Paris, London, and Amsterdam, for example, if they book a Train + Hotel package.

The Belgian public railroad company NMBS/SNCB holds an 18.5% stake in the Eurostar Group. The largest shareholder is the French railroad company SNCF (55.75%). The rest is mainly with a Canadian pension fund and a U.S. infrastructure investor.