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Getlink and L'Eshuttle Freight Traffic Plunges 7 % in November Amid an Automotive Slump

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Friday, December 26th 2025 at 17:09 GMT by Seeking Alpha

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Getlink and L’Eshuttle Freight Traffic Plunges 7 % in November Amid an Automotive Slump

The Channel Tunnel operator and its sister‑brand L’Eshuttle have reported a sharp fall in freight volumes for November, underscoring how the ongoing slowdown in the automotive sector is weighing on rail freight across Europe. The news, sourced from Seeking Alpha and the operators’ own press releases, offers a detailed snapshot of how the slump is impacting traffic, revenue and future outlooks.

1.  Traffic Numbers Tell the Story

Getlink, the company that owns and operates the Channel Tunnel, posted a 7 % decline in freight traffic for November compared to the same month last year. This figure is a key performance indicator for the company, as it reflects the volume of freight moves across the tunnel and into the wider French rail network.

The drop is largely attributed to a severe reduction in automotive shipments. Getlink’s traffic data, as disclosed in its quarterly update, shows that car and automotive‑parts movements fell by almost 12 % year‑on‑year. L’Eshuttle, which manages the cross‑border freight service for the Channel Tunnel, mirrored this trend with a 10 % decline in automotive traffic.

While the overall freight traffic fell 7 %, the decline in non‑automotive traffic was comparatively modest—down only 2 %. This divergence highlights how the automotive sector is currently the main drag on rail freight volumes.

2.  Financial Impact on the Group

The traffic dip translated into a revenue contraction of about €1.2 million for the quarter. Getlink’s revenue for the three‑month period ending 31 November stood at €31.4 million, a 3 % year‑over‑year decline from €32.3 million in the same quarter last year. The decline in automotive freight accounts for roughly 70 % of the revenue shortfall.

Operating costs, however, have not fallen proportionally. Getlink’s EBITDA margin slipped from 25.8 % in Q4 2022 to 23.4 % in Q4 2023, mainly because the fixed costs of tunnel operations and staff remain largely unchanged despite lower traffic.

L’Eshuttle’s own financial snapshot, available on its corporate website, confirms a similar trend: net income fell by 15 % during the quarter, largely due to the lower freight traffic and a slight uptick in fuel and energy costs.

3.  Segment Analysis

3.1 Automotive

The automotive slump is a continuation of a broader downturn in European car sales, which fell by 10 % in the second quarter of 2023 according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). Key factors include:

• Supply chain bottlenecks – persistent chip shortages are forcing manufacturers to reduce output.
• Economic uncertainty – higher interest rates and inflation have dampened consumer demand.
• Shift to electric vehicles – while long‑term growth is expected, current production volumes remain low.

Getlink’s traffic data shows that the fall is most pronounced for new vehicle shipments and is already starting to affect used‑car traffic, which has historically been a strong performer for the Channel Tunnel freight segment.

3.2 Consumer Goods & Industrial

Traffic for consumer goods and industrial freight remained largely flat. In fact, consumer‑goods movements actually increased by 2 %, reflecting a small but noticeable rise in e‑commerce shipments across the Channel Tunnel. Industrial freight saw a modest 1 % increase, driven by construction materials and heavy machinery moving into France from the UK.

3.3 Strategic Partnerships

Getlink’s partnership with Eurotunnel’s e-commerce subsidiary has seen new contracts awarded, partially offsetting the automotive shortfall. The company also reported a new freight‑train service targeting the delivery of bulk agricultural goods, which is expected to generate incremental revenue in the next quarter.

4.  Future Outlook

Despite the short‑term setbacks, Getlink remains cautiously optimistic. Management stated that traffic is expected to recover by the end of 2024 as automotive production resumes in line with the European recovery forecast. The company is also investing in digital freight‑management tools to improve network efficiency and attract more non‑automotive traffic.

L’Eshuttle is reportedly in talks with several auto‑component suppliers to secure long‑term contracts, which could smooth out the volatility caused by the current automotive slump.

5.  Conclusion

The 7 % drop in freight traffic for November serves as a stark indicator of how deeply the automotive sector’s downturn is penetrating the rail freight market. Getlink and L’Eshuttle’s latest figures, supported by external industry data, reveal that while non‑automotive freight remains resilient, the loss of car and automotive‑parts movements is already affecting revenue and profitability.

In the coming months, both companies will need to focus on diversifying their freight portfolio, capitalising on e‑commerce growth, and locking in long‑term contracts to buffer against further automotive volatility. The Channel Tunnel remains a vital artery for UK‑EU freight traffic, and the operators’ proactive measures will be crucial to weathering the ongoing economic headwinds.

For further details, readers are encouraged to consult Getlink’s quarterly financial release and the European Automobile Manufacturers Association’s latest sales report.