Eurostar's outgoing chief executive has explained how the pandemic, Brexit and soaring inflation have scuppered hopes of restarting Kent services.

Jacques Damas, who will leave the cross-Channel rail operator this month, says he understands the frustration of those who wish to see international trains run from Ashford and Ebbsfleet once more.

However, he insists increased border friction and tough economic headwinds make it impossible for the services to be financially viable.

In an open letter to Huw Merriman, chair of the parliamentary Transport Select Committee, Mr Damas explains that Eurostar received no state aid during the pandemic, in contrast to £7 billion allocated to prop up its airline competitors.

He also points to the fact that peak capacity through its stations is around 30% lower than it was pre-Brexit, thanks to the need to check and stamp the passports of third-country citizens, including Britons.

"It is only the fact that Eurostar has capacity-limited trains and significantly reduced its timetable from 2019 levels, that we are not seeing daily queues in the centre of London similar to those experienced in the Channel ports," he said.

"This situation has obvious commercial consequences and is not sustainable in the mid-to-long term.

"But the immediate consequence is that we are currently not able to respond to the high demand on our core routes linking capital cities.

"Reopening the intermediate stations (where demand and yields are much lower) would make things even worse as it would take away from London vital border police resources."

Other issues facing the rail firm include challenges recruiting maintenance engineers at its main Temple Mills depot in Stratford and soaring costs driven by £100 million in increased inflationary pressures.

Costs for the HS1 line between the Channel Tunnel and London - already three to four times more expensive per kilometre than its French equivalent - are now rising almost three times as fast.

"I hope that these elements provide sufficient background to the difficult decisions we have taken and why there is no immediate prospect of reversing these," Mr Damas said.

"Although I will leave my role as Eurostar CEO by the end of the month, I know that my successor, Gwendoline Cazenave, together with my colleagues, will be pleased to engage with you and the committee if you wish to discuss some of the issues raised in the letter in greater detail.

"In particular, we would welcome any support the committee could give to protect international travel in the context of the governmental and regulatory risks I highlight."

Earlier this year, KentOnline took an in-depth look at how empty Ashford International has become since services were suspended at the height of the pandemic.

In August Eurostar confirmed it would be 2025 at the earliest before trains called in Kent again, a decision branded "plain ridiculous" by Dartford Borough Council leader Jeremy Kite.