Javelin train speeds into London

The train will come into domestic service in December 2009

A new high-speed train which will be used to transport spectators to the 2012 Olympic Games has made its first journey into London.

The 140mph "javelin" train travelled from Ashford in Kent to St Pancras in 37 minutes - a journey which would normally take 83 minutes.

The Japanese-built trains will speed spectators from central London to the Olympic Games' site in seven minutes

The trains will come into service on domestic routes in December 2009.

The Southeastern train company plans to run 29 of the trains on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link from Kent to central London.

Transport Minister Lord Adonis, who travelled on the inaugural journey, 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 javelin will cut journey times from Ramsgate to London from 119 minutes to 84 minutes, Dover to London will be cut from 112 minutes to 74 and Canterbury to London will come down from 102 minutes to 61 minutes.

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