In 2007, eight million travellers – including an ever-increasing number of regular customers – experienced the quality of Eurotunnel’s Passenger Shuttle service. We are constantly striving to improve this, particularly the traffic flow and information for passengers. In this way, Passenger Shuttle traffic is developing in line with the market, while revenues are increasing more significantly.

• 2,141,573 cars and motorcycles, and 65,331 coaches in 2007, totalling nearly 8 million travellers on Passenger Shuttles during the year  

In 2007, Eurotunnel’s Passenger Shuttles transported 2,141,573 cars* (up 6% on 2006) and 65,331 coaches (down 3%), which represents a total of nearly eight million travellers. With 43% of the market share (38% for coaches), Eurotunnel is the leading cross-Channel operator in the car market.

Now well-established, the dynamic sales policy (the earlier you reserve the more you save!), provides a better return to the company by increasing operating margins and this continued to pay off in 2007. It meant that, while traffic volumes of cars and coaches rose in line with the market trend, income from operating the Passenger Shuttles rose more noticeably. Backed by experience acquired during previous years, Eurotunnel managed to optimise its ticket sales prices. This resulted in increasing revenue generated from every Shuttle crossing, while maintaining an average base price of €69/£45 per crossing – highly competitive for the service delivered. Eurotunnel’s premium service, Flexiplus, which offers greater flexibility and priority boarding, met with great success.

In order to improve customer service and reduce waiting times at the Terminals, Eurotunnel introduced a new timetable in January 2007. The departure times of the Passenger Shuttles were set automatically at the 20 and 50 minutes past every hour (e.g. 8:20 and 8:50). This timing means that additional departures can be added at peak times or to rapidly absorb the  consequences of an accident. The ‘Frequent Traveller’ scheme proved hugely successful in 2007. The offer is designed to attract the loyalty of Eurotunnel’s customers and also to provide an incentive to travel during off-peak times. The significant increase in the number of holders of these accounts implies that a growing number of customers may be using Eurotunnel to commute regularly between Britain and the continent for work or pleasure.

In 2007, Eurotunnel again demonstrated its ability to provide high-quality services when exceptional events take place. For the Tour de France crossing on 8 July, 21 coaches and nearly 100 cars took the Channel Tunnel. Three Passenger Shuttles were laid on especially to transport teams of bicycle racers in excellent conditions, under the watchful eyes of cameras around the world.
On the occasion of the Rugby World Cup, held in France and the UK in autumn 2007, Shuttles were unusually full. Starting on 8 September, the day the English team played in Lens, Eurotunnel transported 1,100 cars more than on an ordinary Saturday for that time of year.

On 14 September, 1,600 vehicles of rugby fans joined the usual traffi c. For some games, ticket sales for Passenger Shuttles jumped by more than 60%! In order to cope with this high volume, the company programmed 49 additional Shuttle crossings into its September timetable.

The 2007 Christmas season was one of the busiest Eurotunnel has ever experienced, with the number of vehicles up 10% on the previous year. Eurotunnel transported as many as 10,000 cars in a single day!

Elsewhere, the Group continued its advertising campaigns in the national papers in the United Kingdom and focused its marketing campaigns on new audiences through the trade press. In 2008, Eurotunnel will again focus on consolidating its already successful business strategy and on providing quality service for its customers.