Passenger numbers at Channel tunnel rail service Eurostar rose 2.4% to 7.5 million last year, helped by a 14% increase in business class traffic.
Eurostar said fewer business-class cabins on airlines meant more people had used its Business Premier Service.
Overall, the firm said it took 71% of the London-Paris market and 64% of the London-Brussels market, beating rivals such as Air France and BA.
Sales at Eurostar were up 7% in 2005 to £464m ($820m).
"Our focus on business travelers is paying off," said Richard Brown, chief executive.
"As some airlines cut out their business-class cabins, they're also cutting out their customers." Eurostar said it expected passenger to rise further this year thanks to the World Cup and the release of the film version of “The Da Vinci Code” novel.
The World Cup kicks off in Germany in June and the Da Vinci Code, much of which is set in Paris, is expected to lure more travelers to France's capital city.
By: N. Peter Kramer
