International high-speed rail is making the UK economy more competitive, more productive and better connected to Europe – with independent research showing the scale of this contribution for the first time, with Eurostar as its case study.

The report, titled Fast track to growth and produced by Public First, found Eurostar contributes £2 billion to the UK economy and supports approximately 23,000 jobs across the country each year – with the figures set to surge by more than 40 per cent and 70 per cent respectively over the next decade as international rail enters a new era of expansion.

The research has been described as the most comprehensive assessment of international high-speed rail’s contribution to the UK to date, with Eurostar adding that it shows the operator is not simply a transport operator but a piece of national infrastructure that boosts Britain’s economy, provides high-quality, high-pay jobs and builds deep cultural ties.

Looking ahead, the report found that by 2035 Eurostar’s economic contribution is projected to rise to £2.8billion and 40,000 jobs. This is driven significantly by the company’s committed £1.7 billion investment in a fleet of new double-decker Celestia trains, with the first due to be in service in 2031.

The expanded Eurostar fleet will enable new direct services from London to Frankfurt and Geneva – extending the UK’s ties with these two important trading partners.

For every direct job at Eurostar, an estimated 16 further jobs are supported across the wider UK economy in engineering, supply chains, hospitality and tourism. The economic activity Eurostar supports generates around £87,500 of gross value added per job, approximately 9 per cent above the UK average, making it a driver of the high-productivity growth the UK Government has identified as anational priority.

The report also documents Eurostar’s wider impact on UK competitiveness. The convenience of international rail generates an estimated 500,000 additional tourist visits to the UK each year – trips that would not otherwise have taken place – contributing £370 million in incremental spending on hotels, restaurants and attractions.

A further 150,000 incremental business travellers arrive in the UK by rail annually, adding £115 million through the rise of blended work and leisure travel. Evidence in the report also shows travellers switching from plane to train for journeys to Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels and beyond.

Gwendoline Cazenave, CEO of Eurostar, said: “For Eurostar, travel is about much more than transport. Throughout history, better connections have created stronger economies, greater innovation and deeper understanding between people. Rail has a unique ability to bring cities closer together while offering a journey that is productive, comfortable and sustainable from city centre to city centre. Connection creates opportunity and growth.

“This research shows what Eurostar already delivers – and why international rail is worth investing in for the future. The UK now needs a bold vision to match the private investment on the table – more depot capacity, a bold expansion of St Pancras and a seamless border. Now is the time to act to ensure Britain plays a leading role in Europe’s high-speed rail future.”

Tim Leunig, Director at Public First, said: “We expected to find that Eurostar was good for the UK economy. What surprised us was how much of that value comes through competitiveness – more productive businesses, higher-quality jobs and connectivity that has made King’s Cross one of Europe’s leading investment destinations. The role of international rail in growing the UK economy is clear.”