LONDON: Eurostar, the high-speed passenger train operator linking the UK and Continental Europe, announced that it is adding an eleventh daily service (Monday to Friday) in each direction on the London-Brussels route from 14 December 2008.

The extra service is being introduced to meet fast growing demand from travelers. Passenger numbers on the London-Brussels route have increased by 30% since the launch of Eurostar services on High Speed 1 in November 2007 - when the fastest London-Brussels journey time fell to just 1 hour 51 minutes.

The additional service will leave London at 11.04 and arrive in Brussels at 14.03; the Brussels departure will be at 12.59 arriving in London at 14.03 (times are subject to Network Rail confirmation). The extra service will deliver 7,500 seats each week on the London-Brussels-London route with tickets for travel going on sale from 16 August 2008.

The introduction of an eleventh daily London-Brussels service means that Eurostar has also been able to re-introduce a direct Ashford-Brussels service from 14 December 2008 (see Notes to Editors for specific timings of this service). Simon Montague, Director of Communications, Eurostar, said: "We are delighted at the very strong increase in traveler numbers on the London-Brussels route.

The eleventh daily London-Brussels service will give travelers more options when planning a trip to the Belgian capital or a connecting journey to a destination elsewhere in Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany."