Eurostar's looming financial crisis looks unlikely to receive any easing from the British government after another call for support was ignored.

The high-speed rail service operates between London and Kent to the continent.

However, it has been hit hard by the pandemic and the travel restrictions imposed with passenger numbers down 95%.

Forced to take out £400million in loans, as a consequence, the money is due to be repaid in June.

Without additional financial support, it is feared it could collapse under the weight of the debt.

It is currently operating just two services a day - one to Paris, the other to Amsterdam.

Last year, it confirmed none of its services would stop off at either of Kent's international stations - Ashford and Ebbsfleet - until 2022.

While the UK government has not completely ruled out any future financial aid, it is understood there is considerable opposition to the cry for help. Recent talks reached made no headway.

The Financial Times quotes one government official saying: “The tunnel and the rolling stock are there. Someone would take them on, even if the company went to the wall. There’s no appetite for bailing them out at all.”

Eurostar was originally jointly owned by the French and British governments. However, Whitehall sold its stake in 2015. The majority stakeholder is SNCF - the state-owned French railway company. The British government is thought to be looking to its French owners and private investors to provide support.

The RMT union has been calling for support.

Its general secretary, Mick Cash, said: "As the main Eurostar union RMT supports the calls to save this vital environmentally sound link between the UK and our neighbours in Europe.

The UK and French governments must work with the private stakeholders to put together a financial package that provides the bridge to survival for this service

"The UK and French governments must work with the private stakeholders to put together a financial package that provides the bridge to survival for this service which supports 3,000 UK jobs and keeps our economies and communities connected."

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