Uber set to reopen Ebbsfleet International by 2029
Trains to and from Europe via the Channel Tunnel will stop in Kent up to 10 times each day under new plans by Gemini Trains and Uber.Eurostar services stopped calling at Ebbsfleet and Ashford international stations at the beginning of the pandemic, and have so far not resumed.But rail operator Gemini Trains and transport app Uber recently announced they were teaming up and planned to rival Eurostar by operating trains between London St Pancras and the continent.Adrian Quine, CEO of Gemini, said the new service could be introduced by 2029 and would stop at Ebbsfleet, although Ashford is not in the plans for now.
Mr Quine told BBC Radio Kent: "It's very important because Eurostar no longer stop in Kent and there's eight million people who live in the south-east of England, outside the M25, for whom having a direct service to the continent is extremely important."Ebbsfleet is a perfect station. It's designed for international traffic, it's got a massive car park, it's very well connected via the road network and it's connected to the rest of Kent via the HS1 service."We're proposing every train stops there."The deal, similar to that between Uber and the London Thames Clipper boats, would see tickets offered through the app but operations remaining the responsibility of Gemini.Mr Quine said he was between 60 and 70% sure that the project between Gemini and Uber would be green lit by the rail regulator.
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