Channel Tunnel Half Year Results
Large decrease in Channel Tunnel traffics for first half 2020
Getlink (the group that operates the Channel Tunnel) reported significant reductions in traffic and revenue for the first half of 2020.
For the first half of 2020 truck shuttle traffic fell by 18%, passenger cars were down 52%, coaches down by 65%, high speed Eurostar passengers were down 62% and rail freight trains were down 27%. These figures are all compared to the first half of 2019.
During Q2 the decreases were especially high. Truck shuttle traffic was down 25%, passenger cars were down 80%, coaches were down 89%, high speed Eurostar rail passengers were down 98% and rail freight trains were down 35%. (All compared to Q2 2019.) Q1 figures had been better with decreases in the range 12% to 30%.
More recent data is showing that the downturn has been continuing through the summer months. August year to date figures show that truck volumes are down 15% and shuttle passengers are down 42% compared to Jan-Aug 2019.
Getlink August 2020 Press Release
Copy of the GetLink half Year Report is here.
Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported that a London Hedge Fund (and Getlink shareholder), Oceanwood Capital has been writing to European Governments to radically change transport policy in order to shift traffic from short-haul air and RORO ferries to Channel Tunnel rail.