Councils push again to bring Eurostar back to Kent

Eurostar services have bypassed Ashford International since the Covid pandemic

Three local authorities are making another appeal for international rail services to be brought back to Kent.

Eurostar services have not stopped at Ashford International and Ebbsfleet international stations since 2020, when passenger numbers fell during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Leaders of Kent County Council and Ashford and Dartford borough councils will make a further call on Friday for them to be restored.

Eurostar said the situation will be reviewed in 2026.

The three councils will also back proposals to allow operators other than Eurostar to run passenger services through the Channel Tunnel.

Other companies who have expressed an interest in running international services are Virgin, TrenItalia and a partnership between Gemini and Uber, with Kent and Sussex MPs backing the idea earlier in September.

To do so they would need to be allowed access to the Temple Mills International Depot in Leyton, London, the only facility where Channel Tunnel trains can be serviced, and currently run by Eurostar.

The Office of Road and Rail is due to take a decision in October on whether to allow other operators to use the depot.

Other operators are seeking permission to run international rail services through the Channel Tunnel

A Eurostar spokesperson said: "Our Kent stations will remain closed throughout 2025 and will be reviewed in 2026.

"We understand that this may be frustrating, and we want to stress that we are closely monitoring the situation and, should there be any changes, we will provide an update."