Eurotunnel posted a modest rise in first-half operating revenues today and said traffic using its tunnel between France and Britain had increased.
Eurotunnel said it made operating revenues of £268 million in the first half of 2005, up 2 per cent on the £263 million it reported in the same period of 2004.
The company said truck traffic rose 9 per cent, while car traffic was up 1 per cent and coach traffic up 34 per cent.
It said traffic in the first-quarter was boosted by the fact that rival ferry operators had operational problems at the French port of Calais, which is the main point of departure for vessels using the cross-channel route.
But it said the positive effect did not continue into the second quarter.
The company, which is hampered by a debt burden of more than £6 billion , has warned that bankruptcy is inevitable unless it can agree a deal with creditors to reduce its debt by October.
Eurotunnel has said it needs to cut its debt by £4 billion.