Groupe Eurotunnel SA - 2007 Traffic and Revenue

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Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:45am EST

RNS Number:8436L
Groupe Eurotunnel SA
15 January 2008


15 January 2008

For release at 16:45 UK time


         Eurotunnel 2007 Traffic and Revenue figures: a remarkable year

•         Revenues increased: €775 million (+6% pro forma*)
•         Strong revenue growth from Shuttle activity (+8%)
•         First Europorte 2 trains


2007 was a remarkable year for Eurotunnel, with significant pro forma growth in
revenues and traffic through the Tunnel confirming, for the third successive
year, its continued growth. The end of 2007 also saw the start of a new activity
for Eurotunnel with the launch of services by its subsidiary Europorte 2.

Revenues reached €775 million, an increase of almost €50 million, or 6% on a
comparable basis (i.e. at a constant exchange rate and without the guaranteed
payments from the Railways (MUC) which ceased contractually at the end of
November 2006).

For reference, Eurotunnel received €95 million under the MUC in 2006. This
significant loss of revenue was largely compensated in 2007 by an unprecedented
development of activity in Eurotunnel's recent history.

The growth in revenue (excluding MUC) is, for the third consecutive year,
largely the result of Eurotunnel's operation of its Passenger and Truck
Shuttles, its core business, which grew by 8%, reaching the symbolic threshold
of €500 million.

Eurotunnel also saw growth in its main traffic through the Channel Tunnel:
during the past year Eurotunnel's Shuttles transported 1,414,709 trucks (+9%)
and 2,141,573 cars** (+6%) between Folkestone and Calais-Coquelles, and Eurostar
carried 8,260,980 passengers between London, Paris and Brussels (+5%).

Eurotunnel considers that this success is proof that its millions of customers
appreciate the Group's constant efforts to improve the quality of its service
and its environmentally considerate transport system.

Rail freight traffic was the only activity to decline in 2007, as was
anticipated. Eurotunnel made all possible efforts to participate in the
re-launch of rail freight activity, with the announcement on 23 October of a new
pricing strategy in favour of open access and by launching operations for its
subsidiary Europorte 2 on 26 November, including responsibility for the traction
of SNCF trains between Frethun (Pas de Calais) and Dollands Moor (Kent).

Jacques Gounon, Chairman and Chief Executive of Groupe Eurotunnel SA, declared,
"For the third year in succession Eurotunnel has significantly increased*
revenues. This is an unprecedented moment in the Eurotunnel's recent history. We
are now substantially ahead of the business plan for the financial
restructuring. These remarkable results and the future value represented by the
Channel Tunnel Concession enable us to start 2008 with confidence and
determination."


*    At a constant exchange rate and without the payments from the Railways
     guaranteed under the Minimum Usage Charge (MUC) which ceased contractually 
     at the end of November 2006.
     
**   Includes motorcycles, vehicles with trailers, caravans and camper vans.



2007 REVENUES

                                                                                            WITHOUT MUC
                                    2007        2006      2007/2006       2006            2006     2007/2006
In € million                                  restated      change     published        restated    change

Exchange rate €/£                   1.437      1.437*                    1.462           1.437*
Shuttle Services                     500        461          +8%          465             461         +8%
Railways (without MUC)               262        254          -25%         255             254         +3%
MUC                                   -          94                        95
Other revenues                       13          14          -8%           15              14         -8%
Total revenues                       775        823          -6%          830             729         +6%


*   The 2006 revenues have been recalculated at the exchange rate of £1= €1.437
in order to allow a direct comparison with 2007.

Total revenues for Eurotunnel reached €775 million in 2007. In 2006, revenues
totaled €823 million (restated), but this included €94 million (restated) of MUC
revenue, the guaranteed fixed minimum payments from the Railways which ceased
contractually at the end of November 2006.

On a comparable basis, at a constant exchange rate and without the MUC,
Eurotunnel's revenues have grown by 6% in 2007. The Group's revenues increased
by +1% in 2005 and by +5% in 2006.

The principal driver of this growth has been from Shuttle operations
transporting trucks and passenger vehicles via the Channel Tunnel between
Folkestone (England) and Coquelles (France): Shuttle Services revenues grew by
8% to €500 million. This core activity now represents almost 65% of the Group's
total revenues, with the transport of trucks being the larger part.

Revenues coming from the Railways are up by 3%, on a comparable basis, to €262
million, but are down by 25% taking in to account the significant contribution
made by the MUC in 2006.

Other revenues (€13 million) remain relatively marginal.


2007 TRAFFIC

                                                                       Year
                                                2007                   2006                  change
Truck Shuttles       Trucks                  1,414,709              1,296,269                 +9%
Passenger Shuttles   Cars (1)                2,141,573              2,021,543                 +6%
                     Coaches                   65,331                 67,201                  -3%
Eurostar (2)         Passengers              8,260,980              7,858,337                 +5%
Rail freight         Tonnes                  1,213,647              1,569,429                 -23%
                     Trains (3)                2,840                  3,786                   -25%
     
(1)  Including vehicles with trailers, motorcycles and camper vans.

(2)  Only passengers using Eurostar to cross the Channel are included in this
     table, thus excluding journeys betweens Paris-Calais and Brussels-Lille.

(3)  The new pricing structure in place since October 2007 invoices by train
     and not by tonne. Traffic will from now on be counted in number of trains.


The quality of service provided by Eurotunnel, the Speed, Ease and Reliability
of its transport system, has led several million customers to choose the
Eurotunnel Shuttles to cross the Channel in 2007. In a growing market,
Eurotunnel's principal traffic has made significant progress.



Eurotunnel Shuttles

1,414,709 trucks, the equivalent of approximately 18 million tonnes of goods,
were loaded onto shuttles in 2007. This is 9% higher than 2006, and is also
higher than 2005, which was a record year for Eurotunnel due to the transfer of
traffic from the port of Calais.

Passenger Shuttles carried 2,141,573 cars* (+6%) and 65,331 coaches (-3%),
equating to almost 8 million people.


Railway Operators


Eurostar

The high speed Eurostar trains carried 8,260,980 passengers between London,
Paris and Brussels via the Channel Tunnel in 2007, an increase of more than 5%.
This growth accelerated in the fourth quarter with the opening, on 14 November,
of the new international station at St Pancras and the entry into service of the
high speed line, High Speed One, which reduced journey time from London to Paris
by up to 20 minutes. This is further supported by Eurostar punctuality which is
helped by the priority that Eurotunnel gives to their passage through the
Tunnel.


Freight Trains

The fall in rail freight traffic through the Channel Tunnel continued in 2007.
Only 2,840 trains (946 less than the previous year) made the crossing, carrying
just 1,213,647 tonnes of goods (-23% compared to 2006). To bring an end to this
situation, Eurotunnel has implemented a new pricing structure which is identical
for all rail freight operators (existing and new entrants), simple (one tariff
per train, irrespective of load) and competitive (€4,500 per train).



Eurotunnel's subsidiary Europorte 2 began operations on 26 November 2007.
Currently this consists of traction for SNCF trains via the Channel Tunnel
between Frethun and Dollands Moor and, in concert with SNCF, the ground
operations of the frontier rail yard at Frethun.



GET 02/2008


For media enquiries contact on + 44 (0) 1303 284491
Email: press@eurotunnel.com

For investor enquiries contact Michael Schuller on +44 (0) 1303 288749
Email: Michael.schuller@eurotunnel.com



                               www.eurotunnel.com




                                      ***





                                    ANNEX 1




• Revenues for the 4th quarter 2007 (October-December)



                                      2007         2006       2007/2006         2006
In € million                                     restated      change          actual
Exchange rate €/£                     (1)          (1)                           2
Shuttle Services                      120          113           +6%            117
Railways (without MUC)                 65           69          -24%             72
MUC                                    -            16                           18
Other revenues                         3            3            -2%             3
Total revenues                        188          201           -7%            210



(1)       The exchange rate which applies to the 2007 annual and 2006 annual
(restated) revenues is £1 = €1.437.
(2)       The average exchange rate for 2007 was £1 = €1.462.




• Traffic for the 4th quarter 2007 (October-December)




                                                         4th Quarter
                                          2007             2006             change
Truck Shuttles        Trucks            363,368          340,823              +7%
Passenger Shuttles    Cars (1)          527,239          508,217              +4%

                      Coaches

                                         16,066           16,876              -5%
Eurostar (2)          Passengers       2,117,337        1,972,871             +7%
Rail freight          Tonnes            254,504          405,847             -37%
                      Trains              587              955               -39%



(1)   Including vehicles with trailers, motorcycles and camper vans.

(2)   Only passengers using Eurostar to cross the Channel are included in this
table, thus excluding journeys betweens Paris-Calais and Brussels-Lille.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

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