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| Javelin train speeds from London | Javelin train speeds from London |
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| Rail travellers have been whisked out of London at 140mph for the first time on a special preview trip on board a new Japanese-built "Javelin" train. | Rail travellers have been whisked out of London at 140mph for the first time on a special preview trip on board a new Japanese-built "Javelin" train. |
| Guests are taking part in a test run on a round-trip from London to Kent ahead of the start of passenger services. | Guests are taking part in a test run on a round-trip from London to Kent ahead of the start of passenger services. |
| Southeastern will begin a limited high-speed service on 29 June followed by a full service from 13 December. | Southeastern will begin a limited high-speed service on 29 June followed by a full service from 13 December. |
| The Hitachi trains will run on the Channel Tunnel line and will reduce journey times by up to 43 minutes. | The Hitachi trains will run on the Channel Tunnel line and will reduce journey times by up to 43 minutes. |
| It will cut Ashford to London journey times from 80 minutes to 37 minutes, while Ebbsfleet to London will take 17 minutes. | It will cut Ashford to London journey times from 80 minutes to 37 minutes, while Ebbsfleet to London will take 17 minutes. |
| The Javelin trains, which have 338 seats and can carry up to 508 people, will also be used to take spectators from St Pancras to the 2012 Olympics site at Stratford in east London in seven minutes. | The Javelin trains, which have 338 seats and can carry up to 508 people, will also be used to take spectators from St Pancras to the 2012 Olympics site at Stratford in east London in seven minutes. |
| 'Value for money' | 'Value for money' |
| However, passengers using the Class 395 trains, which use technology from Hitachi's high-speed bullet trains, later this month will have to pay more for the pleasure. | However, passengers using the Class 395 trains, which use technology from Hitachi's high-speed bullet trains, later this month will have to pay more for the pleasure. |
| Fares on the preview trains will be £26.60 from Ashford to London instead of the normal £22.20. | Fares on the preview trains will be £26.60 from Ashford to London instead of the normal £22.20. |
| Existing ticket holders can pay the £4.40 supplement at any station and first-class ticket holders will be able to use the high-speed service for no extra cost. | Existing ticket holders can pay the £4.40 supplement at any station and first-class ticket holders will be able to use the high-speed service for no extra cost. |
| It's a great day for passengers and a great day for UK railways Transport Secretary Lord Adonis | It's a great day for passengers and a great day for UK railways Transport Secretary Lord Adonis |
| Southeastern has said the new fares "offer value for money for passengers". | Southeastern has said the new fares "offer value for money for passengers". |
| Charles Horton, the train company's managing director, said the service was "great news for the people of Kent and south-east England". | Charles Horton, the train company's managing director, said the service was "great news for the people of Kent and south-east England". |
| The preview service will include three morning peak services from Ashford to St Pancras and three return services in the evening rush-hour. There will also be six morning services between Ebbsfleet to St Pancras and six in the evening. | The preview service will include three morning peak services from Ashford to St Pancras and three return services in the evening rush-hour. There will also be six morning services between Ebbsfleet to St Pancras and six in the evening. |
| The full schedule when launched in December will offer 200 services a day provided by a total of 29 Javelin trains. | The full schedule when launched in December will offer 200 services a day provided by a total of 29 Javelin trains. |
| Transport Secretary Lord Adonis, who arrived at St Pancras to join the train on Thursday morning, said the high-speed trains were the "future of the railways". | Transport Secretary Lord Adonis, who arrived at St Pancras to join the train on Thursday morning, said the high-speed trains were the "future of the railways". |
| "Here we have a 140mph train replacing Victorian infrastructure which can't cope with the pressures. | "Here we have a 140mph train replacing Victorian infrastructure which can't cope with the pressures. |
| "It will offer the best service in to London from the Kent coast and the Medway towns. It's a great day for passengers and a great day for UK railways." | "It will offer the best service in to London from the Kent coast and the Medway towns. It's a great day for passengers and a great day for UK railways." |
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| Javelin high speed train pulls out of St Pancras |