'Vital' Eurostar services should be restored - MPs

MPs in Kent and Sussex have called for "vital" Eurostar services from Ashford and Ebbsfleet to be restored

Eurostar services in Kent should resume to provide a "vital" transport connection for Sussex and Kent residents, a group of MPs has said.

The train company's services through Ashford and Ebbsfleet were suspended in March 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic and have not resumed in the nearly five years since.

Hastings MP Helena Dollimore said the international rail services were "hugely important" for the South East as she joined a group of Kent MPs lobbying the government for its return.

Gwendoline Casenave, Eurostar chief executive, said the company was committed reviewing its position in 2026.

Left to right: MPs Polly Billington, Helena Dollimore, Tony Vaughan and Lauren Edwards

Dollimore said: "I will continue to keep the pressure on Eurostar and hold them to account for their decision to suspend services to Ashford.

"The Labour government supports the resumption of these services, which were hugely important to us in Hastings, Rye and the villages."

"Ashford International was opened with huge taxpayer investment under the last Labour government. We expect them to deliver on the responsibility they have to our local communities to resume this vital connection."

Dollimore joined a group of Kent Labour MPs including Sojan Joseph, Lauren Edwards, Tony Vaughan and Polly Billington to meet with rail minister Lord Peter Hendy over Eurostar.

She said she also met with Gwendoline Cazenave, Eurostar's chief executive, last week to call for services to resume.

Richard Branson's Virgin Group, Dutch company Heuro and Spain's Evolyn have expressed interest in competing with Eurostar.

In a statement, Ms Cazenave said it was currently focusing on core routes from London and would review its position in 2026.

She added: "I would like to reassure our partners in Kent that we will continue to evaluate all options moving forward, and we remain open to engaging with stakeholders as the situation evolves."