Eurostar slammed

East Sussex County Council and Hastings Borough Council are horrified at the company's decision to cut train services stopping at the station from eleven a day to just four, saying it is a major setback to long-term plans to boost the local economy and attract new business. Under Eurostar's new timetable, almost half of its services will call at Ebbsfleet in Kent, instead of Ashford International. This leaves just three services a day calling at Ashford en route to Paris, one to EuroDisney and no direct service to Brussels.

In a joint statement, council bosses said: "Ashford International has played a key role in our long-term plans to boost the county's economy and could have a serious impact on regeneration plans for the area. We want to see Hastings and East Sussex become the European gateway for the South Coast, and to attract new businesses to the area which could take advantage of the access to international markets. The news also undermines the good progress made in upgrading and improving the line between Ashford and Hastings."

Ebbsfleet Station in Kent is 34 miles further north than Ashford '“ a drive of one and a half hours from Hastings, as opposed to approximately 40 minutes on the train direct from Hastings.

The changes to timetabling also bring into question the future of Ashford International, and the surrounding area as a major gateway into Europe.

Regeneration bosses concluded: "It makes total sense for the south east to become a transport hub into Europe. This decision goes against the South East Plan and we will be writing to MPs and the transport minister to raise our concerns."

Although from 2007 there will be an overall increase in the number serving Kent '“ from 11 to 16, Ashford will lose most of its services to Ebbsfleet. Ashford will retain:

3 daily services to and from Paris,

1 daily service to and from Disneyland Resort Paris,

1 direct Lille service for connecting to Brussels (seemingly one of the above)

A weekly Avignon service during the summer,

A weekly ski service to the French Alps during the winter

Ebbsfleet is due to open in October next year, when section two of the 186mph Channel Tunnel Rail Link opens in St Pancras, London. Waterloo CTRL services will cease. Ebbsfleet will be a major catalyst for regeneration in the East Thames Corridor

SeaSpace is working hard to upgrade the Hastings Ashford line. It commissioned a study to see how the line could be upgraded and Network Rail are currently examining the recommendations. There is also Interreg money being used currently in Hastings as part of a trans-national project to support the feeder services to the high speed train network. Ashford International is the connecting point for the county.

For further information please contact Kevin Boorman at Hastings Borough Council on 01424 451767.