5 years is too long without Eurostar services say local leaders

Ashford business leaders and politicians call for Eurostar return on 5th anniversary of services stopping

On the 5th anniversary of Eurostar services stopping due to the Covid pandemic in March 2020, local business leaders and politicians have joined forces to describe why their return are vital.

In an exclusive video produced by local filming company Square Stone Media, various contributors explain the impact it has had on the local economy. They also talk about how they hope government support for their return will see a reversal of the decision which will lead to a positive turn in fortunes for Ashford, Ebbsfleet, Kent and the wider southeast region.

International services from Ashford were halted at the start of the pandemic in March 2020, however the wait goes on for their return. Five years on local politicians were joined by business leaders to call for their return, and for government support to put pressure on Eurostar.

Cllr Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council: “There’s nearly 250 million pounds worth of investment gone into the stations in Kent, and here they are now not being used to their full potential. It’s a tragedy.”

Ashford MP, Sojan Joseph: “It is very important for the economy of Ashford, and widely in Kent, to bring international travel back.”

Political Liaison Officer for the Bring Euro Trains, Cllr Diccon Spain: “Losing Eurostar had had a devastating impact on the local economy. One of the businesses we spoke to said they had lost a million pounds of income over the last couple of years.”

Deirdre Wells, Chief Executive, Visit Kent: “The tourism industry in Kent is worth about four billion pounds and there is unmet demand here that we could use to grow the economy of Kent and the UK”.

Cllr Derek Murphy, Cabinet member Economic Development, Kent County Council: “We certainly at KCC are using all our contacts on the continent, both within the EU and with the various embassies to promote Ashford and Ebbsfleet, to get Eurostar to stop.”

Tudor Price Chief Executive from Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce: “We are quite prepared to what we can do here to make the case to government and ministers, and bring about the change that is absolutely needed, not just for this part of the world but for the whole of the south east region and the rest of the UK.”

Cllr Noel Ovenden, Leader of Ashford Borough Council: “What we’re trying to do is encourage them that time is now. We want it open now. We need to keep on banging the drum, louder and louder, lets push to get this station open.”

A campaign group, which comprises key voices from the public and private sector, including Ashford Borough Council, Dartford Borough Council, Kent County Council, Kent and Medway Economic Partnership, Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Locate in Kent, and Visit Kent as well as prominent voices in the local community and wider Kent business community have been campaigning since they stopped in 2020, which Eurostar originally blamed on a combination of financial concerns and post-Brexit red tape.

January 2025 marked the 29-year anniversary of Eurostar services arriving at Ashford International Station. Its opening came after an 18-month, £80million construction project, which had started in June 1994, to transform the town’s station into ‘Ashford International’. Two new platforms were built for domestic trains to replace those used by Eurostar.

Cllr Noel Ovenden, Leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “Eurostar recently announced record growth in 2024, yet they continue to insist that a return of our much-valued, local to international rail connection isn’t on the cards anytime soon.

“At a time when economic growth is crucial for the country, when sustainable travel is essential for the environment, and when securing public-sector capital investment is increasingly challenging, it simply doesn’t make sense for existing infrastructure and investment at both Kent International Stations to have remained dormant for five years, making no contribution to these vital national priorities.”

“Eurostar knows this is a viable proposition for the future—what we’re trying to do is convince them that the right time is now. We want it open now, not in another five years. We need to keep banging the drum, louder and louder, and push hard to get this station reopened.”

Join in the campaign

We are seeking the support of all residents and businesses by:

• signing the public petition,

• writing to their local MP to encourage government to act,

• sharing their story about why this is so important for the people and economy of Kent and the South East via our website.