High Speed Preview Services from Folkestone to St Pancras to start 7 September
Southeastern have announced that on 7 September, high-speed services from St Pancras to Ebbsfleet and Ashford will also serve Dover Priory, Canterbury West, Ramsgate, Folkestone Central and Folkestone West.
There will be two morning peak services from Ramsgate via Canterbury West and two peak services from Dover Priory via Folkestone Central and Folkestone West, returning in the evening peak. All the new services will also stop at Ashford International, resulting in an additional peak service on top of the current three trains to St Pancras International.
Morning fast trains will depart from Folkestone Central at 6.54 and 7.54 (Folkestone West at 6.57 and 7.57) arriving at St Pancras at 7.50 and 8.47 respectively.
Return trains in the afternoon depart St Pancras at 16.37 and 18.37, arriving at Folkestone Central at 17.32 and 19.32 (Folkestone West at 17.29 and 19.29) respectively.
Preview fares from Folkestone to St Pancras are £30.30 single, £52.50 return - £4.40 and £8.10 more than a similar mainline fare.
Lib Dem Folkestone Councillor Tim Prater commented:
"It's certainly good to see the preview of these services, and we look forward to the introduction of the full service later in the year. However it is critical that users of the mainline services into Charing Cross and Cannon Street do not suffer as a result of the new service to St Pancras. southeastern need to ensure they offer a reasonable direct, fast service from Folkestone to Charing Cross and Cannon Street and back.
"The cost of the trains to St Pancras will also make the eyes water of many people - over £50 return to London is incredibly expensive. Few existing commuters will see the point of paying more to get a fast train to the side of London they didn't want to get to."
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