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.
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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.