Eurostar targets October return for e320s at Ashford

Eurostar Class 374 e320s are expected to start serving Ashford International again from October 1.

Following a high-profile launch in April, featuring Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling, the new trains were removed from the station. This led to short-term cancellations, and passengers having to travel to other stations.

Sources explained to RAIL that the problems were due to AC-powered trains (the e320s) operating in a DC-powered area. Tests had been carried out before April using the Class 374s, but these were at slower speeds.

In traffic, they arrive at Ashford International at linespeed, and it was at this point that problems were discovered. The trains were ‘earthing’ through signalling, which is a fault caused by the fact that the new Siemens trains are not earthed at one point.

In a statement on August 22, Eurostar spokesman Catherine Leonard told RAIL that cancellations or stop-skipping that have been taking place along the route were “due to occasional last-minute set swaps which have resulted in e320 trains having to be used on Ashford services rather than our e300 or original trains.

“As e320 trains are currently unable to stop at Ashford, instead passengers for Ashford are provided with tickets to travel back from either Ebbsfleet or St Pancras.

“This is an interim measure and we are working hard with all partners and infrastructure managers to ensure that our e320s will be able to stop at Ashford station as soon as possible.”

Network Rail said that the matter was being dealt with by Eurostar.