Call for return of service to Calais-Fréthun
The mayors of Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer have called for the urgent return of Eurostar services to Calais-Fréthun station in northern France. Like at Ashford and Ebbsfleet, the service at Calais-Fréthun was suspended during the pandemic and never returned.
Natacha Bouchart (Calais) and Frédéric Cuvillier (Boulogne-sur-Mer) have released the following joint statement (see below for translation):
Translation:
We have been complaining since 2020 of Eurostar’s decision to stop services at Calais-Fréthun’s international station. It is clear to us that this service is a major driver of economic development for the Calais and Boulogne regions as well as for the wider Opal Coast.
In the face of Eurostar’s refusal to reinstate these services, we call upon all economic, political and institutional actors in our region to join us in our initiative.
We ask all British residents, in particular those in Kent, to add their voices to ours because they are also suffering the suspension of their services in stations such as Ashford.
In the coming weeks, we will call upon local agencies to take part in collective action so that the State will fight with us on this issue which is a priority for us. Economic development and the creation of jobs remain, for both of us, at the heart of our public commitment.
Natacha Bouchart and Frédéric Cuvillier
Commentors on Mme Bouchart’s Facebook page, where this statement appeared, have vented their frustration at having to drive to Lille in order to access the Eurostar to London.
Others point out that Eurostar still “occupies” (but doesn’t use) the station’s most accessible platforms, and that the rest of the station needs upgrading.
BBET friend Thadée Segard called for civil society to be prioritised over profit.
Natacha Bouchart was a signatory to the letter sent by Deputy Vincent Caure to Eurostar in June this year, and will therefore have received the reply from CEO Gwendoline Cazenave.
Update 15th September
A LinkedIn post from our own Diccon Spain is quoted in two French articles resulting from the press release of the mayors of Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. BBET’s website is also referenced.
France 3 Régions focuses on the economic loss to the Pas-de-Calais region resulting from losing the Eurostar service at Calais-Fréthun, and the inconvenience and extra expense for passengers.
The two mayors vent their frustration with Eurostar’s continuing excuses: the extra cost of border force staff (usually borne by governments), the stoppage time (3 minutes) and a lack of uptake, arguments demolished they mayors and their supporters.
They believe that even just two trains a day stopping at the northern French international station would make a huge difference locally.
I would like to remind people that Eurostar is owned by SCNF which itself belongs to the state.
Natacha Bouchart, Mayor of Calais
La Voix du Nord remarks that this is the first time the two mayors, who are not from the same political party, have signed a joint communiqué denouncing Eurostar’s decision taken five years ago. Here, our petition gets a mention with an up-to-date signatories figure of over 66,000.
Thadée Segard, President of the organisation, MétrOpale et Métro Transmanche and friend of BBET, has called upon the elected representatives of local towns Gravelines and Le Touquet to follow suit.
The paper notes that the mayors of Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer have called for action but that this is as yet unspecified. They also remind readers that Eurostar may soon lose its monopoly over the route.
Category: General News
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