15.01.18
Work begins to ‘future-proof’ Ashford International for new Eurostar trains
Work has begun on a £10m project to prepare Ashford International station for the new e320 Eurostar trains.
The upgrades are backed by Kent County Council and Ashford Borough Council, with funding coming from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership’s local growth fund.
Network Rail plans to install new signalling equipment, which – coupled with upgrades to platforms – will allow next generation high speed trains to access the station.
Mark Ellerby, senior commercial scheme sponsor for the infrastructure manager, said the problem stemmed from the station’s rebuild in the 1990s, when platforms were not built up to European standards because the Eurostars of the day could run on regular British tracks.
“The work we are doing with new signalling equipment and the platforms will future-proof the town’s station and preserve its status as part of Europe’s high speed network – one of only four stations in the country to have that honour,” he added.
“High speed rail and links to Europe have given Ashford a huge boost over the past 21 years and we are pleased to be working with Eurostar and local authorities to keep that going.”
Work needs to be completed before April, when the first of Eurostar’s new trains will visit the station.
The company began running services on the London-Brussels route in May last year as part of a £1bn investment programme.
Cllr Gerry Clarkson, leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “This multi-million-pound investment in state-of-the-art signalling equipment at Ashford International will secure the long-term future of Ashford’s place on the European rail map.”
He went on to apologise to residents for any disruption caused by the works, but said the economic benefits it would bring to Ashford would be worth it.
And Cllr Matthew Balfour, Kent County Council’s cabinet member for transport, commented: “Kent County Council fully supports this investment at Ashford International, which will ensure that Kent continues to be served by European rail services at both its international stations.
“The county council has worked in close partnership with Ashford Borough Council, Network Rail, Eurostar, High Speed 1 Ltd and the Office of Road & Rail to ensure that this project is brought to completion.”
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