Eurostar saw record passenger numbers and ticket sales in 2008, following its switch from Waterloo to St Pancras International.
A total of 9.1 million people travelled with Eurostar last year, taking ticket sales to £664 million.
Sales were hampered by the fire in the Channel Tunnel in September last year, which let to the closure of part of the tunnel. The accident has caused increased journey times and reduced service. However, the economic downturn is thought to have had little impact on the year as a whole.
Eurostar chief executive Richard Brown said: “An increase of nearly a million extra passengers.. demonstrates beyond doubt that people prefer high-speed rail to short-haul air.”
He added: “While reduced tunnel access will affect the first quarter of 2009, we expect to return to a full timetable in the early spring.”