JOURNEY times between Dover and London will be reduced to an hour by the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, it was claimed this week.

Members of Dover District Council's cabinet were told that this could bring huge economic benefits to the district, with companies deciding to invest in their future in the town.

The councillors are lobbying the Strategic Rail Authority to ensure that the district receives the most benefits from the rail link.

At the moment, trains to London take anything up to one hour 48 minutes, travelling at an average speed of 45 miles an hour. With the new link in place, the average speed should increase to 80 miles an hour.

The slowest part of the journey will be between Dover and Folkestone, which can take 14 minutes to cover the eight miles.

Cllr Simon Bannister said the situation was looking "far better" than it had for a long time. "I can see a little bit of progress now," he said.

The council's managing director, Nadeem Aziz, said decent transport links could do more for economic regeneration "at a stroke".

"Every time a consultant comes to do work with a company in the district, the slow transport results in extra costs," he said. "Once you break that cycle, inward investment is far more attractive.

"I think we are being listened to. We have responded to the demands of the Strategic Rail Authority, and there will be a concerted lobbying campaign. This is the beginning, rather than the end, of the process."