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The £2-a-minute train journey to London

By: KentOnline reporter multimediadesk@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 15:54, 17 December 2008

The Javelin train

They have been hailed as one of the most significant milestones in British history – but have you heard about the staggering cost of travelling on a Javelin train from Kent to London?

The daily fare for using the 140mph train from Ashford could be as much as £67.55, if a proposal to hike fares by about 35 per cent is implemented by train operator Southeastern next December.


~Listen: What commuters think of the potential Javelin train fares>>>


That would be the equivalent of paying nearly £2 a minute to travel and is £10 higher than the lowest return fare currently available on Eurostar to travel to Paris.

The increase could also see the costs of a yearly season ticket rise to as much as £5,358 - that is £1,389 more than now.


What do you think? Is the ticket price too expensive? Will Kent's commuterb be priced out of benefiting from the Javelin train? Add your comments below.


The prospect of Ashford travellers facing huge fare increases has already triggered concerns.

Ashford MP Damian Green said it would be too much for commuters already struggling with above-inflation train fare rises due to take effect from January.

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"Trying to squeeze every last penny out of commuters seems to me to be an interesting business practice."

"Clearly, the High Speed Link is not just important for commuters but is hugely important for Ashford and the rest of east Kent so it is important that this works."


Hear more from MP Damian Green speaking to political editor Paul Francis >>>


A spokesman for Southeastern said no final decisions had been made about the fare structure.

"There is provision for us in the franchise to charge a premium for that part of the journey on High Speed One for up to 35 per cent. It is unlikely that fares will be finalised until later next year," he said.

An inaugural run of the Javelin service took place last week when transport minister Lord Adonis and other civic dignatories were whisked from Ashford to London.

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