by Martin Jefferies

Southeastern is to slash high speed train services through Kent during next year's Olympic Games.

The train operator, which announced its Olympic timetable today, will continue to run two trains an hour between London and Ashford – but will operate just one along the North Kent coast to Faversham.

There will be no high speed service for stations further east throughout the Games, apart from a handful of early morning trains into the capital.

The move is expected to force hundreds of passengers onto mainline services, which Southeastern has said will be largely unaffected.

Commuters with monthly, quarterly and annual season tickets for the high speed service will be compensated, receiving the difference between the high speed fare and the mainline fare.

Vince Lucas, Southeastern's service delivery director, said: "The Olympic timetable is aimed at providing the best possible service to satisfy the need to get spectators to and from venues and also to get our existing commuters into work.

"We've consulted widely on the draft timetables and made some changes, including the introduction of late night high speed services to Ashford International and Faversham.

"While services will be busy, it's expected that there will be a decline in normal numbers of passengers travelling."

As part of its franchise agreement, Southeastern has to provide an Olympic timetable to get spectators to and from next summer's events.

It had always planned to use its high speed trains to provide a 'Javelin' shuttle service between the Olympic Park and St Pancras International, Stratford International and Ebbsfleet International.