Affected By The COVID-19 Pandemic, The Eurostar Fast Train Network Needs Help

Eurostar fleet. (Source: Eurostar)

JAKARTA - A number of businessmen in the UK who are members of London First, expect the British Government to provide financial assistance to Eurostar. This is because the fast train network company that connects Britain with France, Belgium and the Netherlands through the Channel Strait Tunnel is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a joint letter addressed to UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Transport Minister Grant Shapps, the leader of 28 business groups in the UK called on the government to act quickly, as the Eurostar is predicted to run out of funds in a few months.

As reported by euronews, lockdowns to border controls that hamper travel between countries have caused demand for Eurostar services to fall by 95 percent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not to mention that in recent weeks the French and British governments have tightened border controls, challengers must show negative COVID-19 test results and follow quarantine upon arrival, due to a new variant of the coronavirus.

The Eurostar fast train fleet. (Source: Eurostar)

This is taking the travel business even further. Currently, Eurostar only operates one service a day between Paris and London. In fact, they also have services to Brussels (Belgium), Marseille (France) and Amsterdam and Rotterdam (Netherlands). In total there are 28 fast train fleets owned by Eurostar.

"With international passenger numbers likely to remain low until spring, this (Eurostar) is in danger. Eurostar does not ask for special treatment. We urge you to ensure, that they have the same access to financial support as companies in the same position, including waivers. business interest rates and access to government loans, "wrote London First in its letter.

It is known, the British Government has allocated assistance of 3.93 billion euros for the domestic rail network and 2.02 billion euros for commercial flights. Meanwhile, Eurostar has not received anything. In France, Eurostar, which is majority owned by the French-owned rail company SNCF, is believed to have made use of all financial assistance available from the French Government.