Ashford International celebrates 30th anniversary

Ashford International is marking the 30th anniversary of its opening, despite international rail services not having stopped at the station for years.

The UK's second Eurostar station opened on 8 January 1996 following an 18-month, £80million construction project, heralding a new era in travel for passengers across Ashford and east Kent.

However, Eurostar services have not called there, or at Ebbsfleet, since 2020, when passenger numbers fell during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The landmark birthday has sparked renewed calls for international rail services to be brought back to the station.

Noel Ovenden, leader of Ashford Borough Council, says restoring the service "isn't just about the convenience" of shorter journeys to Paris and Brussels.

"It's about bringing back the magic of opportunity, adventure and connection that has shaped our town for three decades," he says.

"Reopening international services would save our residents and businesses around £16.5 million a year, inject over £500 million annually into the visitor economy, and unlock billions in wider growth."

It is believed it would cost about £4m to revive the international arm of the station, which currently only operates domestic routes.

Late last year, Kent County Council revealed more than 82,000 people had backed a campaign to bring international rail services back to the county.

That took a step closer to becoming reality when it was revealed Virgin Trains will be able to launch services through the Channel Tunnel in the future.

In October, The Office of Rail and Road allowed the company access to the Temple Mills International Depot in east London - the only facility where Channel Tunnel trains can be serviced, which is currently run by Eurostar.

Virgin says it aims to start running services from 2030.

A Eurostar spokesperson previously said the status of its Kent stations would be reviewed in 2026, adding that the situation was being "closely monitored".

The company has been contacted for comment.

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