By January 2021, Eurostar ridership went down to less than 1% of pre-pandemic levels.[49] The combined financial troubles and lack of ridership caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to Eurostar seeking governmental assistance from Britain's Treasury and Department for Transport, even though Britain sold its 40% Eurostar holding in 2015.[49][50][51] Eurostar’s appeal included granting the company access to Bank of England-backed loans and a temporary reduction in track access charges for use of the UK’s high-speed rail line.[49] Despite being majority-owned by the French state railway, SNCF, Eurostar was thought to have already exhausted options for governmental assistance from Paris,[52] but both the French transport minister and the UK Department for Transport confirmed they were working on further plans to maintain the service.[53]