High-Speed Rail Service Announced For Dover

Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman is visiting Dover today to launch a new package of public transport improvements to benefit the local area.

As well as opening the Government-funded Dover and Diamond Deal bus service, he is announcing the extension of Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) services to Dover. It follows a decision by Network Rail that it will fund the improvements needed to Shakespeare Tunnel to enable the new Hitachi trains to run to Dover on the existing railway network. It will reduce the journey time from Dover to London to about 70 minutes, a reduction of up to 40 minutes.

Hourly services to London St Pancras will operate from Dover when high speed services are introduced on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in December 2009.

Dr Ladyman said the extension of these services to Dover was an important boost for the town.

"Our contract with Southeastern committed them to run hourly services to Dover, if safety concerns could be overcome.

"We're delighted that funding has been found for these improvements. Rail passengers in Dover will be able to travel to London up to 40 minutes faster than today.

"We want to further invest in services for the South East. We will also invest £8.5m in an extra Hitachi 'Javelin' train which will increase the fleet to 29 trains. A larger fleet means that we can boost capacity and reliability for these important services."

Andrew Munden, Route Director, Network Rail said: "We are actively looking to invest in projects that will expand the railway and provide a better service to passengers and freight customers alike. This additional infrastructure project at Shakespeare Tunnel will make a huge difference in the travel experience to and from this important area of Kent."

Charles Horton, Managing Director Southeastern said: "Our aim is to deliver a growing railway for a growing region, and the high speed trains are a key element in that aspiration.

"We hope the new services will also encourage inward investment and economic re-generation in Kent, opening new job and journey opportunities for people in one of the fastest expanding areas in the UK."

When it is completed, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link will be Britain's first dedicated high speed link, delivering faster journey times from 2007 and reducing commuter journey times from Kent by up to 35 mins from 2009.

Southeastern will also provide the Olympic Javelin service, speeding passengers from St Pancras to Stratford station in 7 minutes during the 2012 Olympic Games.

Substantial regeneration benefits will also be delivered, including supporting an estimated 100,000 new jobs, 18,000 new homes and over 40m square feet of office space along the route of the Link.

Dover MP Gwyn Prosser described the announcement as "nothing short of monumental".

"Make no mistake about it - the Government's positive decision that High Speed Channel Tunnel Trains will be running in and out of Dover within three years is nothing short of monumental. This is great news for everyone in the district and I know it will be heartily welcomed right across the constituency.

"Linking up one of the busiest cities in the country to the busiest ferry port in the world provides us with the biggest single boost to our plans for regeneration and job creation for more than a generation.

"And the success of the long lobby exercise was the result of the enthusiastic engagement of all the partners and the willingness of Ministers and Southeastern Railways to go the extra mile for Dover.

Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council said: "We welcome the long awaited news that Dover is to be served by the future high speed domestic train service. This is something we have been consistently lobbying for. It will mean a journey time of around an hour to London and is a landmark decision, which will enable us to compete on a level playing field with our neighbours. This will foster investor confidence in Dover and help to create a vitally important platform for the regeneration of the area, benefiting both existing residents and future generations. We will now continue to lobby for much needed road improvements to complete the package.

"The opportunity for commuter travel brings a new dimension to Dover's economic wellbeing and the advantages of quality of life and excellent values in the housing market make Dover one of the more attractive prospects for relocation. This is a major opportunity to take Dover forward and with a decision on housing currently being considered, this news comes at the right time to improve confidence with the public that Dover is on the move."

Cllr Nigel Collor, Dover District Council Cabinet Member for Access and Property Management said: "We are absolutely delighted. This is a key part of Dover's future and thanks go to everyone in the community who has worked for this."

Stephen Ladyman also welcomed the launch of the new Dover and Deal Diamond bus service, which benefited from £1.3m of private and public sector investment, including £371,000 from Government.

Dr Ladyman also said the Dover and Deal Diamond bus scheme would provide people in East Kent with better links to crucial services, including more convenient connections with the hospital in Margate, and better access to employment and education centres in Canterbury.

"I hope these improvements will make buses an attractive travel option for more and more local people."