🚧 Update: Bockhanger & Bybrook Community Centre

Yesterday, Cllr Alan Dean and I held a crucial on-site meeting with Ashford Borough Council Director Maria Stevens.

Since the Council controls the site, their backing is the only way to turn proposals into reality. Finally, things are looking up. 🧵

Great to attend this morning's HS1 Sub-Committee on Growth, chaired by @sojanjosephmp.bsky.social to restore international rail to Kent.

Pleased to participate in the discussions with ORR, joining a united group of MPs, council leaders, council officers, special adviser Vince Lucas, and HS1 reps.

Trenitalia “..is a very formidable operator with huge experience. … It is not going away..”

“...while I cannot reveal many of the details … within two weeks it will be coming back with a response…”

www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news...

#InternationalRail #Trenitalia #Kent #Ashford #Ebbsfleet

Delighted to be a guest on a special episode of the excellent Green Signals podcast. This episode is all about what happens next with Virgin Trains and Cross Channel rail services. Watch out for an exclusive heads-up from me about Trenitalia towards the end.

youtu.be/ikDnj9oaIE8?...

A few days ago, the plan for Ashford's international services was a distant 'maybe'. Today, it's a £1 billion public promise. Here's the story of what happened in between.

www.linkedin.com/posts/diccon...

#BringBackEuroTrains #Ashford #Kent #HighSpeedRail #CommunityAction #Investment

Fantastic news in The Sunday Times validates our 2-year @bbet.bsky.social campaign! Ferrovie dello Stato / Trenitalia plan to reopen Ashford International.
We met their UK MD last week. Provided their international strategy head with our petition insights report back in Aug.
#Ashford #Kent

What a day for the #BringBackEuroTrains campaign!

Following yesterday's summit with the Rail Minister, new operators & partners, the momentum for returning international services to Ashford & Ebbsfleet is building.

Thanks to our 77k+ supporters. :) www.change.org/p/bring-back...

1/4 It's not often we agree with the incumbent monopoly, but Eurostar's General Secretary, Gareth Williams, just hit the nail on the head.
​His remarks on the need for more capacity for all operators reveal a fundamental flaw in the UK's entire approach to cross-Channel rail competition.
👇

Great energy at the London St Pancras Highspeed event (Tuesday)! 🚆 Real momentum building for UK-Europe rail. Inspired by CEO Robert Sinclair & reassured all HS1 stations (inc Stratford, Ebbsfleet, Ashford!) are key to future plans, not just St Pancras. #HighSpeedRail #HS1 #Ashford

Great to be on the panel alongside the amazing @jonworth.eu, @garethdennis.bsky.social and @monisharajesh.bsky.social at the fantastic Runways to Railways event on Monday night discussing international rail's critical role in our present and future with an incredible audience. Thanks CfBT and Steer!

📢 I'm pleased to share that the first phase of improvements to the Rectory Way play area (off Beecholme Drive near Gerlach House) has now been completed. I'm really looking forward to seeing this being enjoyed by local families! Thanks to @AshfordCouncil officers for your work on this.

Today, Rachel Reeves confirmed the government’s support for a third runway at Heathrow, emphasising her desire to “go further and faster.” However, this overlooks a faster, more sustainable, alternative: the expansion of our international rail services. bit.ly/4jMiJfI

Today I'm proud to share a landmark collaborative report from Bring Back Euro Trains and Enroute that demonstrates how Kent's purpose-built international stations could play a vital role in driving regional economic growth. enroutecic.com/research/ret...

#InternationalRail #Transport #Kent #Growth

🎬 Thrilled to host filming for Alexander Arnold's directorial debut "11+" at Bybrook Nature Reserve, Kennington! The actor returns to his Ashford roots to film this touching story about childhood friendship. Local talent, and locations - expect premiere at The Ashford Cinema Feb/Mar

@richardbranson.bsky.social Good to see you on @bsky.app. Interesting conversation with your project lead on international rail today. Really looking forward to some Virgin innovation in the international rail space. If you fancy a visit to Ashford anytime let me know! 😁

Well I'm (obviously) delighted with this review of #HowTheRailwaysWillFixTheFuture from Global Railway Review... If you've not picked up a copy yet as you're not sure it'll have much to say to you, have a read of this to see if it changes your mind: https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/19672…