The Javelin trains run on sections of High Speed One the London to Folkestone Channel Tunnel rail link.

According to the train operator Southeastern this new service would cut journey times from Dover to London from more than two hours to one hour 9 minutes and their managing director Charles Horton said the new train service was the fastest in the country.

A preview service was introduced in June (see our story Hitachi class 395 train makes UK’s first domestic high speed passenger voyage 21 June 2009)

However passengers who want to save time and use the Javelin trains will have to pay higher fares for the privilege as a peak-time Ashford-London return will cost £48.70, an increase of £8.10 on the normal £40.60 fare. London-Folkestone will be £52.50 instead of £44.40.

The preview service began running in June from Ashford to London St Pancras and was extended to Dover in October. The full service will be officially launched by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis and double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes today (Monday 14 December 2009) when they travel on one of the trains from St Pancras in London to Rochester, Kent and back.

Dame Kelly is one of the athletes to have one of the trains named after her. Others are being named after Steve Backley, Sir Steve Redgrave, Rebecca Adlington, Chris Hoy, Ben Ainslie, Daley Thompson, Duncan Goodhew, Katherine Grainger, Lord Coe, Tanni Grey-Thompson and Jamie Staff.