Loss of Eurostar services a flawed decision

I read with the greatest disappointment of the suspension of Eurostar service stops in Kent. This was especially painful as it was announced on the day that billions of pounds were invested in HS2 delivery.

I clearly remember the amount of public money and the efforts by partners, including Eurostar, in upgrading the signalling infrastructure at our International station.

This was a clear victory for partnership working and should be celebrated.

It is not unreasonable that the train services are suspended whilst the impact of Covid-19 is managed but to propose that they will not be returning until 2022 is a grave and flawed decision on Eurostar’s part.

Ashford has capitalised on the international accessibility with the new developments, new customers for the expanded Designer Outlet, wineries and most recently on the railway works regeneration to include film studios.

All on the expectation of foreign visitors and businesses; likewise the tourist trade in Kent will suffer.

New users for Eurostar services into Kent are continuing to come forward from local business activity.

I understand the cash flow limitations that constrain Eurostar but it is vital that the interruption to services is as short as possible.

If necessary the UK government should provide the necessary support. It may require exemptions from State Aid regulations but this is not insuperable.

I hope that the people of

Ashford and Kent can join with me in pressing those in government and the train operators to significantly reduce the interruption in services.

Graham Galpin

I am writing to express my concern, disappointment and anger at the withdrawl of Eurostar services from Ashford and Ebbsfleet until 2022.

The withdrawl of these services makes what was once an easy, safe and enviromentally friendly journey to either Paris/Brussels and beyond longer and less safe, making taking a flight a more viable but less enviromentally friendly option which does nothing for the government’s aim of meeting climate change.

The journey time increase from Ashford is probably two hours which is made up of the train trip and transfer from Ashford to St Pancras International Eurostar, causing busier trains from Ashford to London; the longer Eurostar journey time from London to Paris/Brussels; the delays in checking in and then passport control at St Pancras international; a greater risk of contacting Covid as I now need to travel via London! In addition to the above a £10 million signalling project to ensure that the new Eurostar trains could call at Ashford has been wasted. I do not understand why European railways are running much more frequent services eg: Thalys, DB - and yet Eurostar is only running two trains a day to/from Paris.

I would suggest that in order to gain passengers and reduce its losses Eurostar increase the number of services running to permit journeys beyond Paris/ Brussels.

Stop some of these services at Ashford International to improve the train loadings and remove unnecessary journeys from