Eurostar says it is fighting for survival because of a 95 per cent drop in traffic and has called on the UK government to provide similar financial support to that recently announced for England’s airports and for the airline sector as a whole.
The company’s recently appointed chief executive Jacques Damas has written to the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak to call for help.
The rail operator said in a statement: “The new scheme of rates relief for airports puts Eurostar at a direct disadvantage against its airline competitors. Eurostar has been left fighting for its survival against a 95 per cent drop in demand, whilst aviation has received over £1.8 billion in support through loans, tax deferrals and financing.
It added: “We would ask this scheme to be extended to include international rail services, and more generally for the government to incorporate high-speed rail in its support for the travel sector, and in doing so help protect the green gateway to Europe.”
In September, the company said it would no longer serve some stops until 2022 and has also announced plans to merge with Thalys.