Sir, Eurostar management have delivered their final slap in the face to the people of Kent by announcing that they are virtually withdrawing their services from Ashford international to the Continent (report, Sept 12).
For ten years Kent commuters have suffered extended journey times imposed on them to enable Eurostar trains to achieve the best timings from Waterloo to the Channel Tunnel over the existing lines. Now that they have their own high-speed line, we are being rewarded by seeing the removal of their trains from Ashford with an almost total loss of connections to Lille and Brussels and sharp reduction in the number of trains to Paris. A journey from Ashford to Brussels currently taking 1hr 18min will in future require 5hrs to achieve travelling via Charing Cross and St Pancras. Is this why £100 million of taxpayers’ money was spent building Ashford international station? I suggest it could have been better spent on improving the existing infrastructure between Ashford and London.
Maybe it is time for the Rail Regulator to intervene?
JEREMY SPILLETT
Folkestone
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Sir, The new Ebbsfleet international station does not have “poor public transport links”. A new local rapid transit system, Fastrack, has started operation with buses running, where possible, on new bus-only routes. It will promote rapid, regular links to Dartford and Gravesend, and to the big new housing and commercial developments being planned and built.
Ebbsfleet will be linked to existing rail services in Kent, with high-speed domestic services connecting it to London, Gravesend, the Medway towns, and other areas from 2009. Until then Fastrack will make it possible for passengers to use the local rail network.
MICHAEL WARD
Chief Executive, Kent
Thameside Delivery Board