High speed trains to leave Ramsgate earlier than expected

HIGH speed trains will run from Thanet to London from September, rail company Southeastern has announced.

Preview services of the new train, which will shave 49 minutes off the average commute from Ramsgate, will start from September 7. The full service is still due to start from December 13.

Southeastern announced the expansion of high speed preview services to Ramsgate, Canterbury West, Dover Priory, Folkestone Central and West on Thursday, August 13.

Charles Horton, managing director of Southeastern, said: “We always hoped we could expand the preview service and thanks to the success of the first weeks we are now in a position to do this. We want as many people as possible to be able to experience the service before the full timetable is introduced in December.”

There will be two morning peak services from Ramsgate via Canterbury West and two peak services from Dover Priory via Folkestone Central and Folkestone West, returning in the evening peak. All the new services will also stop at Ashford International, meaning in an additional peak service on top of the current three trains to St Pancras International.

The preview services will also allow Southeastern to continue to test the trains, train employees and adjust to passenger feedback and ensure that the full introduction runs smoothly.