It may not be New Year's Eve yet but the Champagne corks are already popping at Eurostar.

In the run up to the New Year celebrations, the high-speed rail operator, that runs services to Europe out of both Ashford and Ebbsfleet, passed two significant milestones.

For the first time since its launch in November 1994, 2013 saw Eurostar carry 10 million passengers for the first time in a single year.

This landmark achievement brings the total number of passengers who have travelled with Eurostar since operations began in 1994 to an impressive 140 million.

Nick Mercer, Eurostar's commercial director, said: “It's been a record breaking year for Eurostar. With a leap in passenger numbers as well as the introduction of new routes and new destinations, we are seeing growing demand from customers across Europe and indeed around the world.

"As we enter our 20th year of operation, we have a year of activity planned on the run up to our 20th birthday in November."

Passenger numbers were boosted in 2013 following the introduction of both new routes and destinations to an expanding timetable.

As well as a new winter ski service to the Swiss Alps, this summer saw the successful trial of Eurostar’s Route du Soleil service direct to Provence in the south of France and has led to the introduction of the route on a permanent basis from 2015.