A Eurostar train (Gareth Fuller/PA)
(Picture: PA Archive)Eurostar has announced its services may not stop in Kent again until 2025, as the operator blamed the decision on Brexit and its post-pandemic recovery.
The company’s trains have not called at Ashford or Ebbsfleet since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The county could remain disconnected from the Continent after hopes were dashed of a gradual return of services next year.
Eurostar said it understood the news would be disappointing for local communities.
But it will continue to have “considerable” financial commitments for a number of years after a drought of passengers during lockdowns, it said, delaying any changes to its timetable.
The operator blamed Brexit, saying border restrictions had “toughened” since the UK’s departure from the EU.
Bosses added they expected further friction when the EU’s Entry/Exit System is launched in May next year.
The new system will automatically check the validity of passports and ETIAS passes (or visas) of visitors from countries outside the Schengen area each time they cross an EU external border.
Trains had regularly stopped at Ebbsfleet and Ashford International stations on their way to Europe.
Passengers were hoping services would resume in 2023, but Eurostar said on Tuesday that it could not “make any commitment for another two to three years” on reviving the routes.
Gerry Clarkson, leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “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, so it is imperative that the benefits of this investment are realised through services being returned to support the economy of Kent and the UK.”
A Eurostar spokesman said: “We understand this will be disappointing for the local communities.
“Whilst we continue to operate in an uncertain and fragile environment, we must focus on our most profitable inter-capital routes to enable us to meet our financial commitments, stabilise our operation and our customer experience, before considering any further developments.
“We will continue to work closely and openly with the local councils on the future of the stations.”
The lack of international service has left Ashford’s station almost completely empty for more than two years, since the pandemic struck.
Passenger numbers at Ashford International dropped from four million in 2019/20 to one million in 2020/21, according to annual figures from the Office of Rail and Road.
The Ashford station cost about £100m to rebuild for Eurostar services in the 1990s.
The delays will be a blow for companies such as bike maker Brompton whose owners are building a new factory in Kent.
Will Butler-Adams, Brompton’s chief executive, said in February that the proximity of the Eurostar station would allow the company to “engage with Europe really easily”.
