'Growing demand' for Eurostar to return to town

A council leader in Kent has called for Eurostar services to return to the county after an almost five-year absence.

Rail services linking the UK to Europe have not stopped at purpose-built stations at Ashford or Ebbsfleet since March 2020.

On the 29th anniversary of the international station opening, Ashford Borough Council's leader Noel Ovenden said: "We will not give up. Our fight continues and we are making a strong case to both Eurostar and the government."

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was also keen to see international services restored to Ashford as soon as possible, but Eurostar said it will review it next year. The Conservative Party were asked to comment.

Ovendean said there was a "clear and growing demand" from residents and businesses across the region for the services to return.

"Services at Ashford International Station are vital - not only for local businesses and travellers, but also for securing future commercial investments, supporting the wider tourism industry, and driving economic growth throughout the south east," he added.

Asked by Ashford MP Sojan Joseph if the prime minister would support his efforts to restore the international services, Starmer said businesses in the town had been "badly let down" by the Conservatives, and added that the station was "an issue of considerable frustration" to those in the area.

The group behind the Bring Back Eurostar Campaign, which includes Ashford council, Kent County Council and the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, said it wanted to see international services return in time for the station's 30th anniversary in January 2026.

Eurostar has said its Kent stations will remain closed throughout 2025 and will be reviewed in 2026.

A spokesperson for the company added it was closely monitoring the situation.

"We recognise the importance of these stations to the local communities, and we remain fully committed to the future of rail connectivity and continue to work transparently with local councils and stakeholders," they said.