by Phil Pitt

Southeastern has announced the expansion of its high speed preview services to the Kent coast early next month.

New services between London and Ramsgate, Canterbury, Dover and Folkestone will begin on September 7.

Journey times will be almost halved - for example 49 minutes will be shaved off a trip from Ramsgate to the capital and 47 minutes from Dover.

Charles Horton, Southeastern's managing director, Southeastern said: "We always hoped we could expand the preview service and thanks to the success of the first weeks we are now in a position to do this.

"We want as many people as possible to be able to experience the service before the full timetable is introduced in December."

But the company was unable to assure passengers that the price of tickets - which has already caused some discontent - would not increase when the services 'go live' at the end of the year.

Spokesman John Hay-Campbell said the cost of tickets would be "reflective" of what it is now but that negotiations were ongoing.

Audio: Southeastern spokesman John Hay-Campbell talks to kmfm about the new services

Geoff Miles, chairman of the East Kent Local Strategic Partnership - which represents local authorities, business and community groups in Canterbury, Dover, Shepway and Thanet, welcomed the expansion.

He described the news as "tremendous", adding: "High speed train services are set to revolutionise the economy in east Kent.

"We already enjoy unrivalled connections with Europe and high speed train services to the capital will put east Kent firmly on the map for future economic development."

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, resulting in an additional peak service from there on top of the current three trains to St Pancras.

An off-peak return train is also being introduced between St Pancras and Ashford International, via Ebbsfleet. Trains from Ebbsfleet will continue to have six morning peak services to St Pancras and seven services back in the evening peak.

Throughout the day, services run twice hourly between Ebbsfleet International and St Pancras International. All the services will continue to run Monday to Friday.

There is hope the high-speed link will breath more economic life into Thanet, Dover and Folkestone. The new rail service has been welcomed by businessman Gavin Oakley, who runs two hotels near Dover.

He said: "It will cut the time it takes to get from London to Dover from two hours down to one and that will make a real difference in terms of commuting and also those visiting the coast for breaks or day trips."

A full, regular service is expected to begin by the end of the year.