DELAYS at the French port of Calais have boosted Eurotunnel’s truck business.

In the first bit of good news for the debt-crushed Channel Tunnel operator for some time, it carried more than 703,000 trucks – up nine per cent – in the first half of the year.

The company said it had benefited from the operational difficulties at the Port of Calais. A berth was out of action for several months after the approach ramp collapsed, triggering a major inquiry into safety and maintenance at the port.

Eurotunnel’s operating revenue went up by two per cent and Shuttle income by six per cent in the first half of the year.

Shuttle Services revenue went up to £146million, with operating income up to £268million.

Eurotunnel said the rise in freight traffic reflected the effectiveness of the new strategy adopted under Project Dare, which set prices according to the forecast about use by hauliers.

On the passenger front, Eurotunnel carried 951,500 cars, a one per cent increase, and nearly 40,000 coaches, a 34 per cent increase.

Eurotunnel said that good growth in the first quarter was not maintained in the second.

Income from Eurostar and other rail services, including a £36million payment under the Minimum Usage Charge, which ends in November 2006, was flat at £117million.

The number of passengers – 3,675, 508 – carried through the Channel Tunnel by Eurostar increased by eight per cent, while rail freight dipped by 13 per cent to around 848,000 tonnes.