Threat to Ashford Eurostar service would be a blow to Folkestone - Bowles

8.02.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 3rd Oct 2006

Shepway MEP Sharon Bowles has written to Eurostar to press them to retain services from Ashford following the announcement that services from the station will be slashed. Eurostar have announced that the Ashford to Brussels service would be cut completely whilst the number of trains from Ashford to Paris will fall to three.

Sharon is worried that the restriction of services is a precursor to closing the £90m station altogether. Closing Ashford to Eurostar would mean Eurostar users from Folkestone and Hythe would have to travel to Ebbsfleet near Dartford to pick up European services - adding around 60 miles and at least 30 minutes to journey times.

Sharon said:

"Much of the regeneration that has taken place in Kent in the last few years is dependent on the business links that the Eurostar service brings. The benefits that the line brings reach far beyond Ashford, into towns like Folkestone, Maidstone, Canterbury and Hastings.

"Kent's geographical position makes it the obvious point for a connection to France, and Ashford's road and rail links make it the obvious stop in Kent."