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French customs action hits Eurostar and Le Shuttle figures

09:00, 15 April 2019

updated: 09:25, 15 April 2019

Industrial action by French customs saw a cross-Channel operator lose more than 100,000 passengers.

In the monthly figures released by Getlink, the company which operates the Channel Tunnel, Eurostar was hit hard by the work to rule action taken in France in March.

It says it loss an estimated 110,000 passengers via the high-speed Eurostar service and several thousand truck and passenger vehicles on Le Shuttle.

Eurostar services were hit by work to rule action by French customs staff
Eurostar services were hit by work to rule action by French customs staff

However, despite the impact, Le Shuttle Freight recorded a new record month.

Le Shuttle Freight transported 152,943 trucks in March 2019, an increase of 5% compared to March 2018.

Since the beginning of the year 440,012 trucks have crossed the Channel with Le Shuttle.

Easter falling in April this year saw passengers using Le Shuttle take a slight dip for March
Easter falling in April this year saw passengers using Le Shuttle take a slight dip for March

In March 2019, Le Shuttle passenger services transported 174,767 passenger vehicles between Folkestone and Coquelles, a decrease of 4% compared to March 2018. It put that down to Easter this year falling in April rather than March.

Since the start of January, nearly 490,000 passenger vehicles have crossed the Channel with Le Shuttle.

Read more: All the latest business news for Kent

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