Ashford Liberal Democrats

Open Letter to Eurostar's management - please copy and forward

Eurostar services from Ashford to Brussels were cut last year despite local protests

Replicated below is a letter from Rod Marten to Eurostar's Richard Brown. We would encourage all those who have been let down badly by the decision to remove the Brussels route from Ashford's terminal to both read the letter and to please write or email a comment to Richard Brown yourself. A 'review' of the decision has been mentioned - any pressure that residents can make in shaping that review is greatly appreciated. Thanks - Chris Took

To:

'richard.brown@eurostar.co.uk'

Cc: 'simon.montague@eurostar.co.uk'; new.comments@eurostar.co.uk

Dear Mr Brown,

A recent article in the Kentish Express about the expansion of bus services to compensate for the withdrawal of train services to Brussels from Ashford International engendered a response (presumably upon invitation) from a Eurostar spokesperson. I was dismayed that your representative still trotted out the pre-November 2007 PR conciliatory statement that travellers from Ashford retain the option of onward travel to Brussels by changing trains at Lille. Surely, by now it must be realised throughout your organisation, that frustrated and disgruntled travellers living South and East of London find this option to be not only most unsatisfactory but also just as bad, if not worse, than the misery of fighting their way in the opposite direction to Ebbsfleet.

Complaints about this option made both to Eurostar and various media and website outlets include:

The impossibility of booking such a (through) journey online. This after nearly 6 months.

Unsuitability of the once-a-day timings and user unfriendly interchange facilities at Lille including the wait for a non-Ashford stopping onward Eurostar, usually 1 hour later.

The difficulty of achieving a reservation on the Disneyland service to Lille when booking less than 6 months in advance. The recent notification of an extra Disneyland afternoon train, not stopping at Lille, does little or nothing to alleviate this situation.

The disproportionate cost in relation to St Pancras/Ebbsfleet A check made today for 19-23 June, Brussels to Ashford return, shows availability but the cheapest fare obtainable is £141. To and from St Pancras/Ebbsfleet the cheapest fare is £54. This adds insult to injury.

You must surely also be aware, that despite Eurostar's recently published percentage increase in passenger take-up, which naturally pleases all Eurostar enthusiasts, there are nevertheless many former regular users who remain feeling completely and most unfairly let down by Eurostar over the demise of services at Ashford International. I am one of these. As I believe that a review of the current situation will be made soon, I would be grateful if the following points, in addition to those made above, are given due consideration.

Eurotunnel has also publicised a spectacular increase in passenger traffic. Some of these will be ex Eurostar travellers who have taken to their cars or bus, but the move to St Pancras is not the only factor for the increase in Eurostar passenger revenue.

It is obvious that, whenever practical, most people prefer the train to the plane and an eight minute overall increase in journey time for a stop at Ashford for some resumption in services will not change that view.

Eurostar's biggest failure is its reluctance, even refusal to consult the travelling public. As a weekly Brussels commuter from the Southeast corner of England, I do question fellow passengers and as I have reported before, I have not found there to be any objection in large numbers to an Ashford stop. Those who would prefer to use Ashford are in a far greater proportion to those who might possibly object. Indeed, I have yet to find anyone actually opposed to an 8 minute extra journey time and even non-Ashford users find the withdrawal of direct Brussels services to the original Gateway to Britain international station quite appalling.

Once again the pre November 2007 PR statement that "two thirds of people that use Ashford would prefer to drive to Ebbsfleet" has just not materialised. A strategy (if that is what it has been) to force people to use Ebbsfleet has resulted in quite the opposite situation.

Last week, when there should have been 40 ex Ashford travellers according to the 'so-called preference for Ebbsfleet', I counted only 15 boarding the train, 4 of whom were quite explicit in their preference to travel to Brussels from Ashford. The maths is simple; for the early evening train, Ashford scores 49, Ebbsfleet 11.

There is no doubt, indeed much pride that overall, Eurostar, including High Speed 1, is a resounding success. I and many others, not the "small numbers" that your managers keeps quoting, also have no doubt that, if permitted to do so, Ashford International with its excellent rail connections, would contribute to making the success even greater, please more people and lend more credence to the 'green credentials' that the Company has been actively promoting.

Persuading people to join the already chaotic and congested outer London motorway system, in lieu of using an already established international station paid for largely by the public has the opposite effect.

The campaign to restore an appropriate level of international train services at Ashford International station remains an ongoing activity and a copy of this letter will be forwarded both to the campaign members and other interested parties. Thus, I trust the Eurostar management will give careful consideration and attention to the issues raised.

Yours sincerely

Rod Marten

Carte Blanche Member and Eurostar frequent traveller for 14 years