The UK government is to fund the overlay of ETCS signalling at Ashford International with £2 million from the Local Growth Fund initiative.
The installation of a modern signalling system at the station is required if Eurostar’s new fleet of e320 trains are to be able to stop there in the future.
Local authorities have said that retaining Ashford’s high-speed link to Europe will safeguard 1,000 jobs and create a further 1,000.
A Network Rail spokesman said the full scope and cost of the project has not yet been established.
Councillor Gerry Clarkson, leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “This project is needed to provide a signalling solution for Ashford International Station, thus enabling next generation of Eurostar trains to continue to stop at the station, and will help the town continue to be one of the most connected places in the UK.”
In October 2014, Eurostar ordered seven more e320 units, taking the new fleet to 17. The ETCS-enabled e320 will also allow direct services to Germany and the Netherlands from the UK for the first time.
