Eurostar is drafting in extra train drivers from France and Belgium to cover for U.K. staff who are staging a two-day strike.

A spokesman for Eurostar said: ‘There will be no cancellations and no disruption to our service - services on Friday and Saturday will be covered by our French and Belgian Eurostar drivers.

The 71 British drivers account for about 40 percent of Eurostar’s driver workforce.

They are scheduled to walk out this Friday and Saturday following the breakdown of talks between management and the workers union Aslef.

Further strike action will take place on 26 and 27 December unless the row is resolved before Christmas.

Drivers are seeking compensation after the value of meal allowances was dented by the pound’s decline against the euro.

“The talks finished yesterday without an agreement and there’s been no further approach from management, said Chris Procter, a spokesman for the Aslef union.

While there will be no disruption to schedules, costs from redeploying staff will be
“significant,” he added.

Management’s latest offer proposes a payment of more than £600 pounds to top up allowances, Proctor said.

Union insiders say the improved offer has increased the chances that the strike action may be called off.