Eurotunnel today claimed to have won the battle for environmentally-conscious cross-Channel travellers after seeing passenger numbers soar to nearly a million since the start of the year.

The group, which last month sealed a £6 billion debt restructuring, said that customers were turning their back on cross-Channel ferries and airlines because of concerns about carbon emissions.

Eurotunnel carried 955,510 cars through the ‘Chunnel’ in the six months to June 30, up 8 per cent on a year ago.

A spokesman said that cross-Channel ferries typically emitted 20 to 30 times more CO2 than Eurotunnel’s trains.

He said: “People are starting to become more conscious of the impact of their carbon footprint and are looking for cleaner ways of travelling. We are definitely seeing a benefit from this. The electronically-powered trains we run are one of the most environmentally friendly options for getting to Europe.”

A trading update from Eurotunnel added that the number of trucks using its service rose 9 per cent in the first half to 707,422.

Total revenue rose 7 per cent to £252 million despite a 14 per cent drop off in railway freight volumes.

Jacques Gounon, the chairman and chief executive, said: “Having succeeded in restructuring its finances, Eurotunnel has now completed its return to the Cross-Channel market with significant growth in its main traffic.

“It is clearly market leader.”

The results come almost two years after Mr Gounon warned that Eurotunnel could “go bust” if creditors rejected the debt restructuring plan finally signed off three weeks ago.

Under the life-saving deal, creditors have agreed to replace £6 billion of debt with a new £2.8 billion facility.

The creditors could end up seizing an 87 per cent stake in the business under a series of convertible bonds, the majority of which vest in three years’ time.

However, Eurotunnel hopes to buy them back over the next year, most after raising funds through a rights issue.

Eurotunnel shares halved in value last week after being re-listed in both Paris and London. They were unchanged at €0.37 in Paris today.

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