Travelodge has officially opened its 574th hotel close to Ashford International railway station.

With this opening, Travelodge now operates hotels at key railway stations servicing HS1 and proposed HS2 routes – connecting the south and north of Britain. 

With the opening of Ashford Town Centre Travelodge, the company 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. 

With the rise of train travel, the national rail network 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.

Tony O’Brien, Travelodge UK property director, said: “We are delighted to open our 574th hotel by Ashford International railway station and cement our presence close to key railway stations that will connect the south and north of Britain via HS1 and HS2 routes. 

“This hotel opening also means we now operate hotels close to the UK’s busiest 200 railway stations.”