2007 Reference Document for Groupe Eurotunnel SA PDF file size

6. DESCRIPTION OF EUROTUNNEL GROUP’S ACTIVITIES increase revenue from the Freight Shuttle Service from 2006 to 2007.For further details, see chapter 9 of this Reference Document.This approach has been further consolidated in 2007. Additional departures are available during certain periods,and the daily timetables have been improved. As part of a project entitled ‘‘Harmony’’, Eurotunnel Group haschanged the way it schedules maintenance work cycles on the Tunnel in order to optimise the Tunnel’s capacityduring peak periods. For example, by shifting work previously done on Friday and Sunday nights to other timesduring the week, Eurotunnel Group has been able to schedule more than 800 additional Freight Shuttle departuresper year on Friday evenings and Monday mornings.The new approach has also yielded better visibility in terms of traffic forecasting, as some major customers haveentered into multi-year contracts with Eurotunnel Group. Such contracts enable customers to lock in theirrequirements in terms of the number of crossings and enable Eurotunnel Group to fine-tune its capacity planning.Marketing networkOn 16 August 2005 TNU took back control of its distribution activities and pricing policy in Europe by terminating itscontract with the intermediary that had previously handled the marketing of Shuttle crossings to small and mediumsized haulers. Five distribution subsidiaries were set up in Europe in 2005. Eurotunnel SE intended to merge thesefive subsidiaries and, during the first half of 2008, Eurotunnel Group transferred the business of four of thesesubsidiaries, EurotunnelPlus Distribution, EurotunnelPlus SL, EurotunnelPlus SAS and EurotunnelPlus GmbH toEurotunnel SE with an effective accounting and tax date of 1 January 2008. It is specified that the transfer ofEurotunnel B.V. is expected to occur in 2008.These transfers were achieved by:A universal transfer of the assets and liabilities of EurotunnelPlus SAS and EurotunnelPlus SL to EurotunnelPlusDistribution and a universal transfer of the assets and liabilities of EurotunnelPlus Distribution to Eurotunnel SE,which led to the dissolution and subsequent liquidation of these subsidiaries; The transfer of the assets of EurotunnelPlus GmbH to Eurotunnel SE on 11 January 2008.These subsidiaries are supplemented by a network of exclusive agents and distributors.b) Passenger Shuttle ServiceIntroductionThe Passenger Shuttle Service provides for the transport of cars, motor homes, caravans, coaches, motorcyclesand trailers between France and the United Kingdom. Travellers can purchase tickets in advance at EurotunnelGroup’s website, www.eurotunnel.com, by telephone from the customer service centre, from travel agencies, orwhen they arrive at check-in. They remain in their vehicle throughout the trip through the Tunnel, which normallylasts approximately 35 minutes from platform to platform. Each Passenger Shuttle train has two sections: adouble-deck section mainly for cars and motorcycles and a single-deck section reserved for vehicles higher than1.85 metres, mainly coaches, minibuses and cars towing caravans.Eurotunnel Group has nine Passenger Shuttles, each able to carry up to 180 cars or 120 cars and twelve coaches. Inlight of the new commercial strategy, only eight Passenger Shuttles were in service in 2007.The Passenger Shuttle Service currently operates up to three departures per hour in each direction.In comparison to 2006, the total number of vehicles transported in 2007 increased by 6% for cars and decreased by3% for coaches. For more details, see chapter 9 of this Reference Document.23