France Property Investment News

Eurostar carries record number of passengers

Investment in French property is expected to benefit as passenger numbers on Eurostar services to France have reached record levels. According to figures from the firm, more than 900,000 travellers used Eurostar rail links last month.

These figures represent the highest monthly total in the company's history and are nearly 17% up on the amount recorded at the same time last year. Eurostar hit the headlines in November last year with a move from Waterloo to St Pancras station in London, and new faster travel times have made properties in France all the more accessible.

One of the reasons behind the shift is thought to be the growing concern from consumers surrounding the environmental impact of air travel. While the different climates and cultures of more far-flung destinations ensure that they will always remain popular among holidaymakers and second-home owners, there is also a strong segment of the market that enjoys a conveniently close destination, and it is for this reason that France remains a stable and popular choice for property investors from the UK and Ireland.

Findings from the currency specialist HiFX support the idea that rail links between London and Paris have helped boost British interest in the French property market. A rise in enquiries from its customers indicate interest is increasing alongside the increased ease of commuting between the UK and France, as many people consider the possibility of relocating to France and commuting to work in the UK.

For those people that have already invested in French property, the news will be welcome, though with France receiving the highest number of tourists per year of any country in the world, the level of demand over the long term for holiday accommodation is unlikely to be a concern.