Eurostar has been accused of “goading” passengers after one of its fleet stopped at a Kent station overnight.

The train was spotted at Ashford International shortly after 11pm.

The operator has not stopped in the county since March 2020 when it decided to no longer serve either Ashford or Ebbsfleet.

Yet the overnight appearance of one of its fleet has only created more frustration amongst passengers.

Instead of taking users across the Channel, the train stopped in Ashford due to engineering works at the operator’s depot, Temple Mills, in Stratford.

It meant the train was forced into stopping at platform four before leaving at about 6am.

Ahead of the upcoming five-year anniversary of it not stopping in the county, one resident said: “Talk about rubbing salt in the wounds at Ashford for Kent travellers.”

Another added: “Goading us now.”

A third person commented: “Wish it would stop at Ashford. [Would] be so much better for so many people.”

Since making its decision to avoid the county, Eurostar has stopped short of saying whether it will return to Kent again in the future.

However, it has already confirmed it will continue to not do so throughout 2024 and 2025.

Last week, KentOnline revealed how Eurostar had been accused of “exploiting its monopoly” and treating Kent with contempt while it continues to mothball the county’s international railway stations.

It came after bosses were quizzed by officials from Ashford Borough Council (ABC), Kent County Council (KCC), Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and MP for Weald, Katie Lam, at a meeting earlier this month.

Representatives from each body asked Eurostar managers whether the company has plans to return to the town following its controversial departure.

But the boss of the county’s leading business forum says he was left disheartened by the latest meeting, saying Eurostar had “yet again done little to offer reassurance or certainty” about services returning to Kent.

Chief executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Tudor Price, said: “The excuse put forward by Eurostar has always been that they would return when it was commercially viable to do so and yet, at this last meeting, the evidence presented to them that a profitable market exists in Kent, was clear and unambiguous.

“Their unwillingness to entertain a £45m income opportunity from stopping at Ashford makes it very clear to all the stakeholders that Eurostar are exploiting their monopoly on international rail travel and have no regard for jobs or community in Kent.”

Meanwhile, ABC council leader, Noel Ovenden, added the service has been "stolen" from passengers.

Eurostar has been approached for comment following its stop at Ashford last night.