Ashford International saved!

8.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 25th Aug 2008

Sharon Bowles MEP worked with local campaigners for Ashford International

Against all the odds, local MEP Sharon Bowles' campaign to save the Eurostar station at Ashford International has succeeded.

Sharon, who is a Lib Dem MEP for South-East England, is delighted that Eurostar have now announced that a daily direct service will resume between Ashford International, in Kent, and Brussels. Eurostar bosses have said that, following a review of traveller demand, the service will be resumed from 14 December.

Originally Ashford International lost all of its direct services to Brussels, and some to Paris, following the opening of the new Ebbsfleet International station.

Sharon has been tirelessly campaigning against the removal of these services for the last two years. Last July she joined a delegation of campaigners to present a 15, 000 strong petition to Downing Street. She also launched the 'Save Ashford International' website.

Sharon said: "This is fantastic news. I have received hundreds of petitions and letters from people infuriated by the loss of services. People had felt very deeply about this issue. Not only had commuters lost an important European link, the service had been valuable to the local economy."

"We took this fight to Eurostar management and the Government. I am glad that they have listened to what South-East residents think. I would like to thank everyone who supported this campaign."