The world leader in Piggyback transport, Eurotunnel transported 1,414,709 trucks on its Shuttles during 2007, and in May 2007, the 12 millionth heavy goods vehicle since the service began in July 1994!

Eurotunnel reinforces its position as cross-Channel leader

Revenue from Truck Shuttles, which make up the Group’s core business, increased well ahead of the market in 2007. A growing number of loyal customers are recognising the quality of service and notably the commitments to speed, punctuality and frequency of departures.

• 1,414,709 trucks transported in 2007
• +9% increase in revenues from Truck Shuttle operations in 2007, compared to 2006
• An exceptional punctuality rate with nearly 90% of trains leaving within 3 minutes of the scheduled time
• The average "door-to-door" transit time between the A16 mortorway in France and the M20 in England is exceptionally quick, at just 90 minutes

An all-time record: in 2007, 1,414,709 trucks, transporting 18 million tonnes of goods, travelled on Eurotunnel Shuttles in 2007. This was 9% more than in 2006 and even beats 2005, when it had absorbed an exceptional amount of traffic from the port of Calais. On 3 May 2007, the Group transported the 12 millionth truck on its Shuttles since opening in July 1994.

Placed end-to-end, these 12 million could circle the Earth six times! The first few months of 2008 confirm this continued success: during the second week of March, Eurotunnel Shuttles transported 36,032 trucks, and on Thursday 13 March alone, 6,821 trucks were carried. This set two new records at Eurotunnel, for weekly peak and daily peak times.

With a 38% market share in its sector, the Group has consolidated its position as leader in the cross-Channel market. Sales for Truck Shuttles were up by 9% on the preceding year and well above market growth of 4%. These buoyant fi gures are primarily the result of the partnerships built up with major customers, «key account holders», by the Eurotunnel sales teams which are active right across Europe. Hauliers are attracted by the quality of the service offered and signing a contract with Eurotunnel allows them to benefit from more advantageous terms than the single non-negotiable price charged to occasional customers, whatever their business or location. 

A new offer

To better meet the needs of an ever-growing market, new Shuttle departure times were introduced in January 2007. The revised time-table includes more fl exibility to take into account the seasonal nature of traffi c. Eurotunnel now runs at least one departure every 15 minutes for two thirds of the year, compared to doing so for only six weeks in 2006. The increased frequency was maintained with an exceptional punctuality rate: nearly 90% of trains left within three minutes of the scheduled time. Most truck drivers are now familiar with the automatic registration system installed in 2006 and truck crossings have become much smoother. While the average transaction time was 45 seconds in 2007, at the end of 2007 it fell to 30 seconds. The average “door-to-door” transit time between the A16 motorway in France and the M20 in England is exceptionally quick, at just 90 minutes. 

Exceptional performance

Eurotunnel staff demonstrated their ability to adapt to the unexpected was proved many times during the year. During the winter months, when weather conditions led to port closures and forced hundreds of additional trucks to take the Channel Tunnel, the company was able to respond rapidly. It adjusted its transport capacities as far as possible, adding additional departures to handle the unexpected increased in traffic.

Elsewhere, Eurotunnel stepped up its presence at trade shows: at the International Transport and Logistics Show in March in Paris, where its new automatic registration system received the 2007 Innovation Prize and at the International Logistics Show in Barcelona in June. With more than 450 exhibitors and nearly 45,000 visitors, these events provided an opportunity to consolidate partnerships and to attract new customers.

Eurotunnel also launched advertising campaigns in trade magazines. In 2008, the Group will consolidate its sales policy and
focus on building long-term partnerships with the major truck hauliers between UK and the continent. Eurotunnel’s commitments to speed, ease and reliability are a real added value for hauliers who increasingly have to deal with “just-in-time” scenarios. Eurotunnel will therefore continue to maintain a high quality of service, in part through the investments made to renovate its Shuttles.