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Video: HS1 - one year
on

by business editor Trevor
Sturgess

tsturgess@thekmgroup.co.uk

High-speed trains have carried more than seven million
passengers in its first year, it was revealed today.

On the first anniversary of the formal start of high-speed
services between Kent, Medway and St Pancras International, train
operator Southeastern said that more than 7.2 million journeys had
been made in the past year.

Although bosses were unable to say what that represented as a
percentage of overall capacity, they said some peak-hour services
were now running around 90 per cent full.

From Ashford, 66 per cent of journeys are now made on
high-speed, followed by Canterbury (67), Folkestone (66), Dover
Priory (64), Ramsgate (55), Broadstairs (47) and Strood (41).

Southeastern said 16 per cent of the journeys were made by
passengers who had not taken the train before.

Vince Lucas, Kent-based service delivery director, said: "Most
of our peak services are almost full.

"We have over half a million passengers every month and it's
building."

The numbers
from Ashford, East Kent and Medway were above expectations but
those using Ebbsfleet International a little below, mainly because
the anticipated house building and other regeneration measures had
stalled.

Customer satisfaction surveys showed that high-speed was the
most liked commuter service in the UK.

It also operated successfully during snow conditions that
disrupted trains powered by a third rail.

Mr Lucas said high-speed rail had transformed areas of the
county and promoted housing growth and business investment.

"It's certainly making Kent a more attractive place to live,
pushing up house prices and the wealth of individuals."