The improvement was attributed to higher load factors and a switch of electricity supply in the Channel Tunnel.
The figure exceeds the 25% reduction target set out in the company’s Tread Lightly plan, published in April 2007, although Eurostar foresees a ‘modest reversal’ this year as a result of the economic downturn.
Despite this, the target has now been raised to 35% by 2012.
Chief executive, Richard Brown, said: ‘We expected that much of the reduction in emissions per journey would come in the first two years. We are now investing significant resources to achieve the harder-to-win savings to be gained over the next three years.’
According to a survey commissioned by Eurostar, the environment remains a priority for consumers, despite the economic downturn.
The survey by Hall & Partners, based on online interviews with 502 adults in the UK, 504 in France and 541 in Belgium, found 70% believe large companies have a responsibility to go beyond simple ‘box ticking’ when reducing the impact of their products.
In addition, 70% think their own actions and consumption choices can affect global warming and climate change, while 60% claim the environment is a priority when spending.
A further 40% say environmental issues had an impact on their decision when making recent purchases or choices concerning holiday travel.
Brown commented: ‘There is a clear appetite among consumers to find ways of reducing the carbon emissions from their holiday travel, and an expectation that the industry should help them do this.
‘It is time to harness consumer pressure and business creativity into a virtuous circle of actions to tackle climate change that will help travellers cut the overall emissions generated by their holiday travel.’
Tread Lightly also included a commitment for Eurostar to become carbon neutral from the time of its switch to St Pancras International from Waterloo on 14 November 2007.
This was successfully achieved, which means Eurostar is the world’s first train operator to make all passenger journeys carbon neutral at no extra charge, by offsetting emissions through investment in CO2 reduction projects.
Since November 2007, the switch of travellers from plane to train has reduced emissions by an estimated 40,000 tonnes of CO2 compared with if their journeys had been made by air.
See also:
Eurostar’s ‘honest pricing’ boosts leisure sales (16/04/2009)
Eurostar back up to speed (23/02/2009)
Not just green plans, Eurostar green plans (17/04/2007)