International Rail Service in Ashford

Ashford Borough Council is encouraging residents, businesses, commuters and visitors to complete a new passenger demand survey to support the case for restoring international rail services to Kent.

Launched by the Bring Back Euro Trains campaign, the survey asks how people would use restored direct international services from Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International, including where they would travel, how often they would use them, and why access from Kent is important.

Ashford Borough Council continues to play an active role in efforts to restore international rail services to Kent, working with county partners, MPs, rail industry contacts and the Bring Back Euro Trains campaign group to keep Ashford International firmly on the agenda.

The council has backed the public petition, promoted the campaign through its own channels, worked with Kent partners on the public interest case, produced the Ashford International Station Prospectus, and highlighted that the infrastructure is already in place, demand is proven, and the opportunity for residents, businesses, visitors and the wider southeast is significant.

Strong Case for Restoration • Forecasts indicate Ashford could handle 350,000 to 600,000 international passengers in its first year, rising to more than 750,000 annually by 2040. • More than five million people live within a two-hour drive of Ashford International, making it a key station for a large, underserved area. • Ashford International previously carried more than 600,000 international passengers a year, showing clear demand for Kent-based services. • The station offers around 1,800 parking spaces and international platforms that can accommodate up to 850 passengers per train. • Campaign evidence estimates that restoring services could save residents and businesses about £16.5 million a year in extra travel costs. • The Good Growth Foundation suggests restoring services to Kent stations could add around £534 million a year to the visitor economy.

The new survey marks an important next step by moving the campaign beyond general support and gathering practical evidence of the journeys people would make.

This evidence will strengthen the commercial case for current and future operators by showing demand from residents, businesses, commuters, leisure travellers and visitors.

Residents, businesses, community groups, parish councils and visitors are encouraged to complete the survey and share it through their own networks. The survey is available via the Bring Back Euro Trains website.