MPs push for Eurostar to reinstate Kent stops which "leave massive gap in market"

Frustrated MPs in Kent and Sussex have held meetings with Eurostar, Virgin and the Rail Minister in a bid to restore international rail services from Ashford and Ebbsfleet.

Eurostar has not stopped at either international station since the beginning of lockdown in March 2020. They are currently used only by Southeastern’s domestic service.

Hastings and Rye MP Helena Dollimore (Labour Co-op) accused the operator of reducing demand by running the service down in the years leading up to the pandemic.

She said Eurostar Chief Executive Gwendoline Cazenave did not provide sufficient answers when she met a group of MPs in February.

“They have done no proper assessment of the demand and commercial viability,” she told RAIL.

Dollimore said there had been huge changes in the region in recent years, with Kent and Sussex becoming more popular with tourists, and that restoring Ashford to the timetable would therefore boost both tourism and business.

“I urged them to do a proper assessment of consumer demand. I think it would surprise them,” she added, although she further noted that it seemed clear Eurostar had “made their choice to invest in London”.

Dollimore said if Eurostar wasn’t interested in stopping at Ashford or Ebbsfleet, she and her colleagues would “help another operator to do so”, adding that the lack of a Kent stop leaves a “massive gap in the market”.

Eurostar described the meeting as “productive”, saying it “reaffirmed its commitment to an open, transparent, and ongoing dialogue about the future of operations at Kent stations”.

A spokeswoman said: “Eurostar is still in the process of repaying its COVID-related debt, and our immediate priority remains increasing capacity at major stations like St Pancras and strengthening core city-to-city routes.

“At the same time, we will need to closely assess the impact of the EU’s new Entry-Exit System (EES) set to launch in 2025, which will require a focused allocation of resources at our busiest stations, particularly for French border controls, to ensure a smooth and efficient experience for our passengers.”

Eurostar told RAIL that in 2019 only 4% of its passengers used either Ashford or Ebbsfleet stations (1.4% and 2.7% respectively) out of 11 million overall. The operator also said that there was no growtth at either Kent station in the ten years to 2019, compared to 20% at St Pancras.

The operator added in a statement: "Reopening these stations would also require significant investment, particularly in eGates and border resources, (which we've already invested €10m into) with the upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES) adding further complexity."

MPs also had a “positive discussion” with Virgin and Rail Minister Lord Hendy, with Dollimore reporting: “He was very clear he is committed to seeing international services return to Ashford. We are a very determined group of Labour MPs keen to do all we can to restore international services.”

The Department for Transport said the decision on which stations are served is down to Eurostar, but that the government supports the growth of international rail passenger services.

Last year, more than 60,000 people signed a petition calling for Eurostar to stop at Ashford and Ebbsfleet.

Meanwhile, a report by transport research organisation Enroute and campaign group Bring Back Euro Trains, published in January, said the suspension of services had “significantly affected Kent’s economy”.