Ashford International Success: Direct service to Brussels to resume!
The BBC reports that Eurostar is to resume a daily direct service between Ashford International, in Kent, and Brussels from December. Ashford lost all of its services to Brussels, and some to Paris, when Ebbsfleet International station opened last November.
The reintroduction follows a massive campaign by local residents and politicians including Lib Dem Kent MEP Sharon Bowles, who was part of a delegation who presented a 15,000 strong petition against the original removal of the direct services last year.
Eurostar said the new service to Brussels would be introduced from 14 December, the date of the international winter timetable change.
It said traveller numbers on the London to Brussels route had increased by 30% since the introduction of the High Speed 1 timetable from Ebbsfleet, which was significantly more than expected.
"This creates the opportunity to re-introduce a direct Ashford to Brussels service, which the review suggests has the potential to become commercially viable," a statement said.
Travellers will be able to reach Brussels before 0900 local time, while weekly commuters will also be able to return to Brussels on a Sunday evening.
Tickets for the new service will go on sale from 16 August.
Eurostar said from December 2009 the launch of Southeastern's high-speed commuter services on High Speed 1 would enable it to offer a big increase in connecting services between Ashford International and Brussels.
Richard Brown, Eurostar chief executive, said:
"I am delighted at the big increase in travellers on our London to Brussels route.
"Although we think the direct Ashford to Brussels service will be loss-making initially, we are prepared to take a risk and see if it is possible to build up sufficient demand to make it commercially viable.
"There have been calls for a direct service between Ashford and Brussels - now we hope travellers will show they value it and will use it."
The current level of service of three services a day between Ashford and Paris, each way, will remain unchanged.
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