Travelodge has opened its 574th hotel close to Ashford International railway station servicing HS1 and proposed HS2 routes. Travelodge now operates hotels close to the UK’s busiest 200 railway stations.
The new 58-room Travelodge with an onsite restaurant called the Bar Café represents an investment of £5 million for the landlord, Ashford Borough Council. It is the closest hotel to Ashford International railway station, home to HS1 and offers rooms from £29. Travelodge also operates hotels at the other end of the HS1 line at St Pancras International railway station.
In addition, the budget hotel chain also operates hotels close to major railway stations at eight of Britain’s largest cities that will connect the south with the north via the proposed HS2 high speed line. This includes London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Every day four million passenger journeys start, end or pass through Britain’s railway stations. The rise of train travel has never been more important to the economic and social success of the UK economy. A key growth area are commuter towns which offer a fast train service (less than an hour) into London.
These commuter towns are growing at pace and attracting businesses of all sizes. They are also a magnet for savvy business and leisure travellers who are seeking low cost accommodation with easy access into the capital. To tap into this growing market, Travelodge has identified ten key commuter towns where it would like to open a hotel close to the railway station which offers a fast service into London. Locations include Broxbourne, Gillingham (Kent), Haywards Heath, Maidstone, Reading, Shoreham, Stevenage, Tonbridge, Ware and Watford.
Collectively this proposed railway expansion plan would represent an investment of £60 million for third party investors and create approximately 300 new jobs.