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Port disruptions have caused truck traffic using Eurotunnel to rise, while rail freight has slumped. Eurotunnel saw truck traffic grow 7% during the first half of 2008. The number of lorries crossing the channel once, increased by 50,001 from the same period in 2007. A spokesman for Eurotunnel cites speed, frequency and reliability as 'pull factors' for truckers. He adds that fishermen and company strikes caused disrupted traffic at the ports,  essentially promoting road/rail over sea.

"Storms closed certain ports, so all the traffic came down our way, giving us a boost in the first half. We can also adjust our capacity to carry higher volumes and adapt to different situations." Blockades, though, had a negative impact on the volume of rail freight journeys, which declined 7%. "The whole market was shaken up with problems in Belgium, France and Italy, so for two weeks in May no rail freight was used at all."

Pre-tax profits increased 16% to just under £175m, for the first half. Although chairman and chief executive of Eurotunnel, Jacques Gounon said the result meant "a position of strength," the spokesman does not anticipate the same rate of growth for the second half.