KENT'S first bullet train has glided slowly into the county, the first of many that will transform Kent rail travel.

The Japanese-built six-car set - number 395001 - rolled into a new £50million maintenance depot near Ashford station on Tuesday. Twenty-nine more will arrive over the next few months.

The Hitachi train was applauded by a VIP audience that included Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, Japanese ambassador Yoshiji Nogami, MPs and council chiefs.

The £260million project is set to offer commuters from Dover, Ramsgate, Folkestone, Ashford, Ebbsfleet International and elsewhere the most up-to-date rolling stock in the world.

Ms Kelly said the event marked a milestone in the rail-link project, the first major new railway to be built in Britain for more than a century.

"The new trains will offer the fastest commuter services in the UK, travelling at speeds of up to 140mph and significantly cutting journey times," she said.

It was an important regeneration project that would bring jobs to Kent and make it "a more attractive location for business".

She added: "It is a symbol of our commitment to Thames Gateway regeneraton and the Ashford growth area."

Paul Wookey, chief executive of Locate in Kent, the inward investment agency, said the new trains would be transformational.

"It's going to demonstrate that Kent has a real world-class railway service," he said. "This is a major part of our weaponry for the next five years. Other parts of the UK are very jealous."

After coming into service in December 2009, journey times between Kent towns and London will be slashed, with the Ramsgate-London time falling from two hours to 1h 25m, Dover's from 1h 40m to just over an hour, Ashford's coming down to 35m, and Ebbsfleet's to 16m.

Commuters choosing to use the service are likely to have to pay a 30 per cent fare premium.