High-speed rail operator Eurostar has announced its trains will not stop at Ashford International or Ebbsfleet International stations in Kent until 2022 as it tries to cut costs in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The company stopped serving the stations in March, but a statement now says an ¡°uncertain outlook¡± has made it necessary to ¡°adapt and take action to reduce our costs so that we protect our business for the future¡±. The decision means passengers will have to make their way to London St Pancras to use the service.

According to Eurostar, bookings were down 90 per cent compared to last year. All of its major destinations ¨C France, Belgium and the Netherlands ¨C have been added back onto the UK¡¯s quarantine list due to a spike in cases.

Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), said the union will work with Eurostar to protect jobs and urged the UK government to intervene. ¡°Frankly, the extended closure of Ashford and Ebbsfleet is another clear sign that Eurostar needs help from the UK government ¨C something I called for months ago.

¡°Ministers can¡¯t be allowed to sit on the side lines ¨C they must act now. The transport secretary and chancellor simply have to step up to the plate and give Eurostar the proper support package it badly needs so that it can keep going under the present circumstances.

¡°Eurostar provides a green strategic link between Britain and our European neighbours. Retaining these jobs and services will significantly increase the chances of Eurostar being on a firm footing as services return to near normal in the months ahead.¡±

Eurostar had already said it would operate a reduced timetable throughout 2021, including delaying plans to start serving the south of France ¨C Lyon, Avignon and Marseilles ¨C until 2022. However, it has confirmed that it will go ahead with the launch of direct return services from Rotterdam and Amsterdam in October, eliminating the need for customers travelling to the UK to change trains in Brussels in order to clear passport control.