Consumers take trains to France

France's rental market could be boosted by the growing popularity of travelling by rail.

According to Virgin Trains, many people are choosing to use the railways to travel to short-haul destinations such as France.

The organisation said the rail networks and Channel Tunnel services are being "well-used" and are increasingly being seen as a good alternative to flying to France.

This could be good news for owners of rental property in France, as visiting holidaymakers will require temporary lodgings.

Philippa Richardson, communications manager for Virgin Trains, commented: "More and more people are choosing [the railway] as a means to get to destinations they might have previously gone to by car or plane."

She added that trains are a far more environmentally-friendly mode of transport than aircraft.

The comments come soon after Eurostar launched a high-speed service between Paris and London, which offers reduced journey times of just two hours and 15 minutes.