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Grow in Kent event

Published: 4 October, 2025 | Tags: , ,

Thanks to our growing petition, BBET was invited to join a major in-person event, organised by Kent County Council (KCC) on 26th September, to demand the return of international trains to Ashford and Ebbsfleet stations.

KCC trailed the event heavily in the press. Council Leader Linden Kemkaran made a video inside Ashford’s international terminal calling for the facility to be brought into use again, and asking viewers to sign our petition. Which they did in droves: the number of signatories sped past 70,000 in the run-up to the big day.

Representation (not exhaustive)

Besides KCC councillors and officials, the event was attended by leaders of all the Kent borough councils most closely affected (Ashford, Dartford, Folkestone & Hythe, Gravesham) and Medway unitary council. MPs and their assistants were invited.

The principal guests were the Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy and his entourage, who had rearranged their diaries to be there.

All four train operating companies hoping to compete with Eurostar sent representatives (Evolyn Mobility Ltd, Ferrovio dello Station Italiane, Gemini Trains and Virgin Group) as did London St Pancras High Speed. Eurostar chose not to attend.

French dignitaries attending included the Député for French citizens in Northern Europe, Vincent Caure. The mayor of Calais was represented by her deputy, M Pascal Pestre.

Tourism advocates, businesses and producers were represented through delegates from Visit England, Produced in Kent, Kent Downs and the (CEO of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Tudor Price.

Other advocates included Alex Bienfait, Stephanie Boucher and Diccon Spain on behalf of BBET and members of The Good Growth Foundation which published a report detailing the economic advantages of reopening Ashford International.

To this list we must of course add the press, local and national.

Speeches and messaging

Linden Kemkaran made clear that Ashford’s international terminal was chosen as venue in order to demonstrate the absurdity of such facilities remaining empty and sterile, after all the investment.

Rail Minister Lord Hendy delivered his unequivocal support to the campaign. His message to prospective competitors to Eurostar was clear: if you want your bid to succeed, prepare to use the Kent stations. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is currently adjudicating bids for train depot space at Temple Mills. Lord Hendy reiterated the preference he has already expressed to the ORR. This is that a competitor should be allocated the spare capacity at Temple Mills, rather than Eurostar keeping its monopoly. He underlined his belief that only competition can give us leverage over how the high-speed line is used, now that the UK no longer has any ownership stake in Eurostar.

Vincent Caure spoke of the impending 200-year anniversary of the railways (which Lord Peter was on his way to celebrate in Darlington). He expressed his hope and expectation that Kent and northern France would enjoy direct rail links in future.

How the day unfolded

The day began in the currently unused international terminal at Ashford Station. This choice made a strong visual point to all those unfamiliar with just how good the facilities already are.

One of the standout highlights was a dance performance by students from the Miskin Theatre (part of North Kent College, Dartford). The dance was set to an amazing song voicing traveller frustrations at the lack of international trains. Watch the dance and read the story of the song.

Speeches followed from Linden Kemkaran, Lord Peter Hendy (Rail Minister), and Vincent Caure . This was followed by a short Q&A. To underline the message visually, Linden Kemkaran cut a ribbon, declaring the international station “open” again.

After refreshments, networking and opportunities for media interviews, we travelled by train to Ebbsfleet. On the high-speed concourse we were welcomed by steel drum music from Kirk. There followed further addresses from Linden Kemkaran and other council leaders.

BBET’s own Alex Bienfait then had the privilege of presenting the petition, which by that point had surpassed 76,000 signatures. BBET, council leaders, business groups and the local growth board signed a memorandum of understanding committing to work together to achieve the reinstatement of international connectivity at both Ashford and Ebbsfleet. Another ribbon-cutting at Ebbsfleet brought the event to a close.

The wider context

This event took place just ahead of the ORR’s decision on depot allocation at Temple Mills, expected in October.  Read BBET’s briefing paper about this.

Government guidance issued in July 2025 encouraging the ORR to prioritise bids that include serving Stratford, Ebbsfleet, and Ashford International.

Good Growth Foundation’s report showed that the return of international services could generate £2.7 billion for the UK economy over five years. It could boost visitor numbers by nearly half a million and create significant new jobs across the South East.

Conclusion

Grow in Kent injected a much-needed note of optimism into the campaign, as a platform from which to express near-universal strength of feeling.

We look forward to the ORR’s decision at the end of this month. We trust that they will heed the views expressed at Grow in Kent, especially those of Lord Peter Hendy.