Dartford Borough Council remains committed to bringing international rail services to Kent, following today’s announcement from the Office of Rail and Road.
A report released today by the rail regulator stops short of offering direct support to reopen services via Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International, but it does pave the way for competition on the line, by approving Virgin Trains Europe (VTE) to have access to the Temple Mills International Depot, enabling the company to progress its plans for new international services from London to Paris, Brussels and later Amsterdam.
Leader of the Council Jeremy Kite said: “Although we’re disappointed that the report doesn’t offer direct support to bringing our two international stations back into operation, we have to be pleased that it does open the way for competition on the service.
“Ebbsfleet is ready and waiting to welcome customers back for international travel.
“Virgin Trains has seen the huge public campaign to get services back to both Kent stations and has shown that it is open to doing so. It just goes to show what can happen when local people, businesses, councils and politicians from a range of backgrounds unite over a common cause.
“There’s plenty of work to be done to persuade Virgin Trains to use Ebbsfleet International, but we’ll be doing everything we can at Dartford Borough Council to work with our partners at Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council to ensure they do.”
The approval of Virgin Trains follows a detailed review of competing applications from Evolyn, Gemini, and Trenitalia, which were declined due to limited depot capacity.