Covid legacy is, strangely, still with us. First high speed Javelin train from Ebbsfleet International into St Pancras this morning. Why? Well, so that I can get a Eurostar train back down through Kent, past where I started, to Paris for the day! Can’t help but ask why neither Ebbsfleet or Ashford Eurostar terminals have re-opened since COVID? Whether you are a “Man / Woman of Kent” or a “Kentish man / woman” (they are different), all very frustrating; not least it adds a lot of time to the journey. However, even if you don’t live in Kent and are, perhaps, a family travelling to the Continent from anywhere else in the UK, wouldn’t the Eurostar look a lot more attractive if you could drive to a station where you can conveniently park your car without having to go into the centre of London? Just a thought. #travel #earlymorning #eurostar
James Wright
3w
When Keir and Rachel hear about this I’m confident they’ll find a solution. They’ll probably close the link entirely to solve the parking issues..
Here here
Philip Dawes
3w
It is indeed frustrating, more so for those that moved to the area for the convenience of having access to the service. It adds 2-3 hours to my journey to Paris. Makes a mockery of shaving 10-mins off a journey time with HS2, bats, expense or otherwise. It also forces people back onto planes and helps justify the need for the enormous expansion proposed at Gatwick, at a time when we are looking to reduce emissions not increase them.
Strong sentiment to bring back Eurostar, for your interest Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Tudor Price, Annette (Nettie) Buss, Andrew Osborne. Over 60,000 signatures to bring it back, sign up today. https://www.change.org/p/bring-back-eurostar-train-services-to-kent
Before Brexit it was a possibility but now there is full border control having three stops (St Pancras, Ebbsfleet and Ashford): A/ cost of three border points B/ much slower stop start service. Do not think Covid had anything to do with it, "getting done by Brexit" did.
Completely agree with this! We used to love traveling from Ebbsfleet to Disney with the family, it made the whole journey so much easier and enjoyable. But now, having to trek into central London first has made it such hard work, especially with the kids. We’ve stopped using Eurostar altogether because of it.
Try using the rail network North of Watford junction then you’ll understand frustration with poor infrastructure. The problem you have is a minor inconvenience on a system that works…. The North lacks the entire infrastructure needed..!
Adrian Jones
3w
That’s one example - South Western sneakily reducing the service frequency on the Waterloo - Richmond line for 4 and hour to 2 an hour after the morning rush and never reinstating it is another.
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3wThe decision to keep them closed isn't Covid related - it's because having an international station involves having border controls which means more cost, and like most businesses, I expect they have done some kind of cost/benefit analysis to work out whether reopening borders in these locations is worthwhile. (Also, if you are a family from anywhere else in the UK, you could always park your car at your local train station rather than in Kent.... 🫠 )