BBET calls for international train resilience
Updated 7th August 2024
BBET’s Cllr Diccon Spain has called directly on the new Labour Government to build resilience into the UK’s only international train link, HS1.
Britain’s vital rail link to Europe is at risk. Here’s why Ashford International is the key to securing it.
Recent crises have exposed critical vulnerabilities in our international rail connectivity:
- In the UK: December 30th, 2023 – HS1 Thames tunnel flooding disrupted services and stranded thousands
- In France: July 26th, 2024 – Coordinated arson attacks on France’s high-speed rail network severely impacted international services
These incidents, on both sides of the Channel, underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive UK international rail resilience strategy. While vulnerabilities exist across the network, our focus must be on strengthening UK infrastructure and contingency plans. While there’s a current track access agreement for Ashford International until December 2024, this alone is insufficient. We need to ensure Ashford is operationally ready to serve as an emergency terminus at short notice and ideally bring it back into regular use for scalability during crises.
Our rail resilience depends not just on legal permissions, but on maintaining fully functional alternative facilities.
The Challenge:
- HS1 line’s inadequate operational resilience
- Ashford International, our potential alternative international terminus with comprehensive domestic connections south of the Thames, has been unused since March 2020 and is not operationally ready for immediate use
- Current track access agreement expires in December 2024, with no clear plans for service resumption or maintaining operational readiness at Ashford
The Opportunity:
We urge Rt Hon Louise Haigh MP, Transport Secretary, and Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, Minister of State for Rail, to use the time before the current agreement expires to develop a comprehensive long-term resilience strategy that:
- Ensures continued legal and practical access to Ashford International beyond 2024
- Maintains Ashford’s operational readiness for immediate activation in emergencies
- Develops plans for scalable operations at Ashford during crises
- Implements comprehensive resilience planning and arrangements for the HS1 line
Why Ashford?
Ashford International isn’t just a station—it’s our potential insurance policy for international rail connectivity.
- Strategic Kent location with extensive domestic connections
- Previously proven international operations capacity
- Essential flexibility and routing options during disruptions, offering a viable emergency alternative to London St. Pancras International
- Potential for rapid activation in crisis scenarios, if properly recommissioned and prepared
The Stakes:
We were lucky last December. A more serious incident could sever our only rail link to Europe for months. We can’t afford to lack a viable Plan B. Risks include:
- Significant economic repercussions
- Disrupted international trade and travel
- Damaged UK reputation for reliable infrastructure
- Inability to respond effectively to major disruptions due to lack of operational alternatives
Call to Action:
As we approach the expiration of the current track access agreement, incorporating Ashford International into HS1’s long-term resilience strategy is crucial for our economic security and global connectivity. This means not only securing legal access but also ensuring Ashford is operationally ready to serve as an emergency terminus at short notice. Better still, it should be brought back into regular use and deliberately designed to easily scale capacity.
The time to act is now. Let’s not wait for the next crisis to expose our vulnerabilities – let’s proactively build in resilience to our international rail services in a way that showcases foresight and vision.
What are your thoughts on using Ashford International as a backup for HS1 resilience? Have you experienced disruptions due to HS1 vulnerabilities or the reliance on a single international station (London St. Pancras)? Share your experiences and ideas in the comments below.
Diccon Spain
Category: BBET Campaign
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