Cross channel company Eurostar has seen passenger numbers rise 2% in the first half of 2014 with a 0.5% rise in revenue. However, the second quarter was impacted by the timing of UK’s Easter and May holidays as well as the effect of people staying in to watch the World Cup.

"Whilst a number of factors in the second quarter of the year lead to a dampening in demand, we are now beginning to see a more benign trading environment with encouraging signs of economic stability in France as well as the UK," said chief executive Nicolas Petrovic.