London to get superfast trains

London: London's new 140mph bullet trains have been unveiled. The sleek Japanese-built models each cost £6 million (Dh40 million) and will run between Ashford and King's Cross in 36 minutes, slashing 40 minutes off the current time.

A fleet of 28 six-carriage Javelins will come into operation in three years. They each have 354 seats but no first class accommodation and no tables. As well as carrying Kent commuters, the Javelins will ferry thousands of spectators to and from the 2012 Olympics. The promise of superfast trains was seen as key in landing the London Games.

Fare hike

But consumer groups warned the cost of tickets which could rise by as much as 70 per cent to pay for the service may prove prohibitive. A yearly season ticket now costing £2,884 (Dh19,000) will jump to £4,732 (Dh32,400).

Brian Cooke, chairman of London's passenger watchdog TravelWatch, said: "At that level of pricing these new trains may prove a damp squib for commuters. The trains will certainly be faster. But most people who live in Kent do so because they want to travel into Charing Cross, Cannon Street or Victoria for their work. With the new service they are going to end up at King's Cross-St Pancras so any time advantage gained will be negated."

But train operator Southeastern said the service would prove hugely popular and denied the fare increases were "massive".

Service expected to prove popular

Keith Ludeman, chief executive of GoVia, parent company of Southeastern, said service would prove "extremely popular".

He added: "This service will be a catalyst for the regeneration of Kent. It will bring Kent closer to London."

Each train will be named after Britons associated with speed, with the first called Dame Kelly Holmes in recognition of the Kent-born double Olympic gold medallist. The high speed trains have a sloping nose just like the Eurostars they will be running alongside.