The countdown has begun to super-fast train services to London.

Transport Minister Andrew Adonis today launched a one-year countdown to the introduction of high speed passenger services by Southeastern.

Purpose-built Class 395 trains - 29 six-car units each capable of 140mph when running on High Speed 1 - will dramatically slash journey times in and out of the capital and to and from many Kent destinations.

Their advent is one of the most significant milestones in the history of Britain’s railways, and it is expected to play a key role in regenerating the south east region and development of the Thames Gateway.

Today, Lord Adonis travelled from Ashford International to London St Pancras International aboard a Class 395.

Travelling entirely on HS1 via Ebbsfleet and Stratford, the train more than halved the average Ashford-London journey time - currently 83 minutes - to just 37 minutes.

From December 13 next year, when the trains become fully operational, they will be capable of running on other tracks at existing line speeds.

Charles Horton, Southeastern’s managing director, said: “This is a huge step forward and gives thousands of our passengers a whole new range of choices about where they live, how they travel to work and how they link up with rail connections to other parts of the country and the Continent.

"We’re proud to be at the forefront of this most exciting adventure, yet remain determined to provide passengers on all our trains with a level of service that is consistently high.

Andrew Adonis said: “When these trains enter service next year they will transform the journeys of large numbers of rail passengers travelling between Kent and London - in some cases halving journey times.

”The Government is also helping to fund a new station at Stratford which will open up a new range of destinations to people using the service, such as the Olympic site from 2012.”

How will the service affect your journeys?

Folkestone, an average 98 minutes away from London by train, will see that time cut to 63 minutes

Canterbury, currently 102 minutes away, will have access to the capital in just over the hour

Ramsgate, almost a two-hour journey away today, will be reachable in 84 minutes

Gravesend to London will take just 24 minutes instead of 42.