At the moment, if you want to get from the UK to Europe by train (and you aren’t in your own vehicle), you’ve only got one option: hop on the Eurostar at St Pancras International in London. However, that might not be the case for too much longer as one of Eurostar’s potential future competitors has revealed further details of its cross-Channel service – with something unique to offer.
There’s been a cross-Channel railway arms race going on for a few years now. Several train companies – including Virgin, German-owned organisation Deutsche Bahn, and startup Evolyn – have been gearing up to make bids for access to the Channel Tunnel. Recent updates have seen Virgin gathering locomotives and Uber revealing that its services would be based at Stratford in east London and pass through Ebbsfleet International in Kent.
Eurostar trains used to make stops in Kent, but service was halted in 2020. The Kentish people aren’t pleased with this, with 80,000 of them even signing a petition to get their European link back. And their protests have worked; now Italian operator Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) has also expressed interest in running trains between London and Paris with a stop in the southeastern county.
The competitor is the first to pledge to stop at Ashford International Station if it secures a contract. Its plans include a £1 billion investment into the British economy, and the construction of an ‘innovation hub’ at Ashford station, according to the Times. The Italian company argues that the combination of its large cash injection, plans to develop infrastructure, and promise to stop in Kent make it the best option for a Eurostar competitor.
FS will begin its London-Kent-Paris services in 2029, contract pending.
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