The UK and French Governments are reported to be working together to work out a plan to prop up Eurostar, which says its passenger numbers have dropped to less than 1% of normal during the latest Covid lockdowns.

Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, the French transport minister, told a parliamentary hearing in Paris last week that the (French) state would be at Eurostar’s side to maintain what he said was a strategic link between the UK and France.

The rescue of Eurostar could present a conundrum for the UK government due to its refusal to step in and bail out airlines, including British Airways, easyJet and Virgin Atlantic.

At present Eurostar offers daily single departures from London St Pancras to Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris.

www.eurostar.com