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The election of a new government at Westminster has prompted leading figures in Kent to urge Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and his cabinet to increase pressure on Eurostar to restore stopping services to Kent rail stations.

A petition to Eurostar was set up by local residents in March 2023 and has attracted nearly 59,000 signatures. Kent County Council (KCC) has also surveyed more than 500 businesses to gauge the impact on them. Ashford Borough Council is also engaged with this issue.

All are concerned at what they see as the lack of international rail services stopping in Kent which they say has badly hit the local economy and acts as a disincentive for UK visitors to mainland Europe and vice versa.

Loss of service

Following the closure of Ashford and Ebbsfleet stations in Kent during the pandemic in March 2020, the Eurostar company announced its train services would not resume there, citing first the financial needs to pay off debt incurred during the Covid period, and then the costs that would be incurred of the new post-Brexit border security for the new EU entry and exit system (EES). In June 2023, the general secretary of Eurostar Gareth Williams told the transport committee of Ashford Borough Council that Eurostar would not stop at the international station during 2024 and probably not during 2025.

The campaign Bring Back Eurotrains

The group behind the Bring Back Eurotrains petition said:

“It’s great to see the number of people who have got behind this petition to Eurostar, which is a clear indication of the demand from people across the South East for international train services from Kent’s two existing international stations.

“The Bring Back Eurotrains group is regularly contacted by residents in Kent and beyond who have been affected by the loss of this service and are concerned about the impact this is having on the region’s economy.

“We hope that we can help provide a collective voice for the residents and show any international rail service provider the substantial opportunities of running services that link the regional hub stations of Ashford and Ebbsfleet to Calais, Lille, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and beyond.”

The case for urgent action

Locate in Kent, which provides free, confidential support to employers setting up, expanding and relocating to the county, is supporting key partners including Ashford Borough Council, Kent County Council and Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce in pressing the case for urgent action to restore services lost since 2020.

Business leaders have shared their views on the impact the loss of this international link has had on the Kent economy over the past five years, calling for action to resolve the issue with Eurostar restoring services or steps taken to open up the Channel Tunnel Rail Link to other operators.

Tudor Price, CEO of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, said: “The businesses in Kent have become increasingly frustrated and annoyed at the lack of engagement from Eurostar on the matter of recommencing services from Ashford. Many local and international businesses invested significantly on the back of this provision and several million pounds of taxpayer money has been spent on platform improvements to accommodate the service.”

Eurostar monopoly not working

He added: “This lack of communication infers that Eurostar has no intention of resuming services despite past promises. If an amicable compromise can’t be reached, then clearly the monopoly Eurostar hold isn’t working for the economy and changes need to be made to introduce competition.

“With a new Government in post and several new Labour MPs elected locally with Eurostar passing through their constituencies, an opportunity to achieve a fair deal for Kent is more likely than ever.”

Price went on to say: “We understand the commercial considerations for Eurostar but there is a wider economic gain to be had here with little or no detriment to their profitability.”

We need those trains back

Further comment comes from Nick Fenton, CEO of Locate in Kent, who said: “In 1994, following billions of pounds of investment, the Channel Tunnel was officially opened putting Kent on the map as the UK’s key gateway to Europe, and sparking an unparalleled period of regeneration and economic growth.

“While we still have the Channel ports and Le Shuttle services from Folkestone, the loss of Kent’s international services continues to be felt economically, both locally and across the southeast region. One of our key strengths as a business location simply disappeared overnight.

“It’s not acceptable for London alone to be reaping all the rewards and prestige of the UK’s only cross-Channel link with Europe. For Kent and the wider South-East region to compete and continue to attract more high-skilled, well-paid jobs, we need those trains back.”

New government and economic growth

“With the new government’s focus on restoring economic growth: it’s vital that ministers put on the pressure to bring services back to Ebbsfleet and Ashford, whether that’s Eurostar or another operator. With clarity on the new EU entry and exit system, due for launch this October and an appetite for improved relations with our largest trading partner there is no longer any excuse.”

“Our job at Locate in Kent is to promote the county as a place to do business and having direct connections with Europe is a vital part of that. We continue to support our partners across the region in lobbying to bring those international services back as soon as possible.”

Bad for Kent tourism

Dev Biswal who runs a successful restaurant in Canterbury, said: “The closure of the Ebbsfleet and Ashford International stations have been body blows to local business – not just those trading with the EU – but the entire county, with money being sucked out of local economies.”

Biswal, chef and owner of The Cook’s Tale, added, “Overseas tourist numbers visiting Canterbury have not recovered since the Covid lockdowns and this year’s numbers are the worst we’ve known, for whatever reason, since opening here 10 years ago.

“Those travelling from Europe to London are unlikely then to travel back down to Kent.

“It’s bad for Kent tourism as a whole, which is a great shame because there’s so much to see and do here.”

Significant investment was made in Ashford International station

His comments are broadly echoed by the leader of Ashford Borough Council, Councillor Noel Ovenden who said: “There was a public outcry when Eurostar made their initial announcement and the local strength of feeling is clearly reflected by recent meetings and the petition that has been launched, which we welcome.

“The prospect that Eurostar is not likely to return anytime soon represents a real challenge for those residents and businesses that rely on the service and those that work locally.

“Ashford is an important economic driver for not only Kent and the East Kent region, but also an important international access point to Europe.

“Significant investment has been made over the last 25 years in infrastructure at Ashford International Station to ensure international services are able to operate to support business and leisure travel to Europe.”

Kent County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, Neil Baker, said: “I want to thank every single one of the more than 500 businesses that have responded to our survey, calling for views on how the halting of international rail services calling in Kent has impacted their firms.”

The disappointing response from Eurostar

A spokesperson for Eurostar said: “Our Kent stations will remain closed throughout 2024/2025. We will provide an update should anything change regarding this. We understand this is disappointing for the local communities, and we will continue to work closely and openly with the local councils on the future of the stations.”

Could a new train operator use the Kent international stations ?

If Eurostar continues to disappoint its potential customers in the southeast, could another train operating company accept the challenge? Several have hinted at an interest in the cross-Channel route, and Getlink, operator of the Channel tunnel, have announced they will assist with some grant money for the set-up costs.

The EU has a rail policy that now allows for competition. Campaigners in the UK also want to ensure that there are no legal obstacles to fair competition for the cross-Channel route, hence the urgent petition to the new UK secretary of state for transport, Louise Haigh. This is an opportunity for the new government to steer rail policy and not just leave it to the commercial decisions of the operating companies, as explained in last week’s article.

Please sign the petition before 16 August when the new four-year contract between HS1 and Eurostar will be finalised.