by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Eurostar trains carried more passengers during London 2012 - but the number of leisure and business travellers fell.

Business passenger numbers also dipped during the Games as companies advised staff to steer clear of the capital in the run-up to the Olympics.

During the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, passenger numbers were up year-on-year from 768,000 in 2011 to 799,000 in 2012.

As a Games sponsor, Eurostar brought hundreds of thousands of fans and athletes to the UK.

It also carried the French, Belgian and Dutch Olympic teams, and - following extensive modifications to its trains - the French and Belgian Paralympic teams.

The operator of high-speed trains between St Pancras, Ebbsfleet, Ashford, Paris and Brussels blamed these factors – and the exchange rate – for a 5% sales dip in the three months to September from £197m in the same period a year ago to £188m.

Total sales for the year to date are down 1% to £612m.

Eurostar said since the end of the Games, it has seen growth in passenger numbers and sales revenues.

Nicolas Petrovic, chief executive, said: "We have had an inspiring and rewarding summer bringing athletes and spectators from around the world to the Olympic Games. Whilst many corporate clients and business customers decided to steer clear of London during the Games, we nonetheless delivered a solid performance. Looking ahead to the end of the year, the outlook is strong.

"Bookings have bounced back and we are now seeing a return to more typical travel patterns. With the tremendous boost that London has experienced over the summer we are looking forward to capitalising on the city's post-Olympic glow."

Meanwhile, Eurostar said significant progress had been made on its £700m fleet upgrade.

It includes the refurbishment of its existing sets and the purchase of 10 new trains using Pininfarina designs. The project is due for completion by 2015.