It has only been up and running a matter of weeks but already it looks like the High Speed Rail Link ‘preview service’ is having a positive effect on house sales in Ashford.

With journey times to the capital slashed from an hour and a half to 37 minutes it has long been expected that Ashford’s housing market would benefit, but estate agents had not predicted a surge so soon.

According to Alex Davies, director at Ashford-based estate agents Hobbs Parker, buyers are prepared to pay the price of a season ticket to swap city living for the fresh air and countryside that Kent has to offer.

“The interest in Ashford’s commutability is occupying a lot of our time,” he says. “We’ve already arranged a number of sales for people looking to exchange house prices in the capital for greater value in the Ashford area. We’re definitely noticing a surge in interest from buyers who now see the town as commutable.”

With house prices in the Kent town 20% to 34% lower than in other commuter areas such as Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey, it is no surprise the Ashford is becoming a new hot spot.

A recent report commissioned by London and Continental Railways suggests that fast rail services into London will boost property prices in Ashford by at least £12,800.