Prime Minister backs calls to restore international rail services to Ashford

Ashford Borough Council has welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment to ask the Transport Secretary to explore restoring international rail services to Ashford.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham made the commitment after Hastings and Rye MP Helena Dollimore described the return of services as a “no-brainer”, with the potential to deliver a £2.7 billion boost to Kent and Sussex and attract more than 500,000 visitors a year.

International passenger services from Ashford were suspended in 2020 and have not returned. Eurostar has said it has no plans to resume Kent stops, although it has acknowledged that future operators could reassess the role of Ashford and Ebbsfleet stations.

Prospective operator Virgin plans to launch cross-Channel services connecting London with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from 2030, with up to 20 daily return services. It has said: “If these stations are reopened, Virgin will stop in Kent.”

Cllr Noel Ovenden, Leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “This is a significant milestone in our campaign to bring international rail services back to Ashford. We have consistently made the case to government, the rail industry and other key partners that restoring these services would deliver real benefits for Ashford, Kent and the wider South East.

“It is extremely encouraging to see the issue now being considered at the highest level of government. This campaign has built real momentum, but we are not taking our foot off the pedal. We will continue pressing the case until international trains are stopping at Ashford once again.”

The campaign has secured more than 85,000 petition signatures, while more than 20,000 people have completed a demand survey designed to demonstrate a viable market for international stops in Kent.

Residents, businesses and supporters are being urged to complete and share the survey and help strengthen the case for trains to stop at Ashford again.

Find out more and get involved and get on board the campaign.