The transport union TSSA has written to UK transport secretary Grant Shapps raising “grave concerns” about the state of Eurostar and asking for the government to step in with support “to prevent a financial calamity”.
In the letter, TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes estimates that current passenger volumes are just one per cent of pre-Covid levels and points out that the government has provided support for domestic rail and even for international airlines, but nothing for Eurostar.
Cortes said: “The situation at Eurostar is severe and government must provide support to avoid mass redundancies and serious damage to our only rail link to mainland Europe.
“Our members at Eurostar are facing financial hardship and mental health problems as a result of the ongoing uncertainty, threat of redundancy and related stress. With Christmas just around the corner it is a desperate situation.
“We’ve heard some big announcements from government on ambitious climate targets, but if they’re serious about decarbonising our economy, then Eurostar – the green gateway to Europe – must be supported through the pandemic.”
The union quotes an anonymous employee who says, “I am extremely anxious about the financial viability of the company, and if it is ultimately able to ‘ride out’ the current storm to what should be a very bright future.”
In November, Eurostar said it was ‘fighting for survival’.