Eurostar meeting is 'encouraging'

Ebbsfleet International Station opened in November 2007

Eurostar has met with a team of local representatives from a Kent town to discuss its future services there.

The delegation from Ashford Borough Council was seeking assurances that the firm would not end its operations at the town's international station.

In November 2007 Eurostar opened a new station in Ebbsfleet and scaled back trains from Ashford to Paris and ended its Ashford to Brussels service.

David Hill of Ashford Borough Council said the meeting was "encouraging".

"Eurostar confirmed that the Ashford to Paris services are currently performing above expectations and therefore have a secure future," he said.

Councillor Paul Clokie said: "This news quashes fears that Eurostar would pull services from Ashford altogether."

A spokesman for Eurostar said: "It was a good meeting. We are currently halfway through a six month review of the changes."

Eurostar's review is expected to be finished in mid-June.