The parent company of Eurotunnel says it performed "robustly" during 2019, despite a "changing and complex environment".

Getlink, the Paris-based public company which operates the Channel Tunnel, said it had seen growth of 20% in consolidated net profit to £491million with revenues stable at £918m.

During 2019, more than 2.6m passenger vehicles and 1.6m trucks used the link between Folkestone and Coquelles in France. That equates to a 56.9% share of car traffic and 40.4% for trucks across the shortest route to the Continent.

There was also a record 11m passengers using the Eurostar service courtesy of the addition of the London to Amsterdam service.

It also confirmed it has invested some £25m in infrastructure to prepare for Brexit and smart border technology.

In addition, it has received £11m so far of the £33m settlement with the UK government over the award of a freight ferry contract to Seaborne Ferries out of Ramsgate as part of Brexit preparations.

And the results should please shareholders with a 14% increase in dividends set to be proposed at its AGM at the end of April to 35p per share.

Jacques Gounon, chairman and chief executive of the group, said: “Getlink has achieved its highest net result since 2007 on a like-for-like basis. The group performed robustly in 2019, in line with our forecasts and in line with market expectations, despite a changing and complex environment.”

The company celebrated its 25th anniversary last year.

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