There's speculation that new improved rail services in one part of Kent could result in a property market boom.

Southeastern announced this week that from December it is introducing a new direct rail link from Maidstone East to Charing Cross, cutting journey times from the current hour and 40 minutes to under an hour.

It described the new timetable as a "seismic change."

The new all-day hourly service will call at West Malling, Wrotham, Borough Green, Otford, Swanley, London Bridge and Waterloo East.

Kevin Dennett is a director with Ben Siggens Estate Agents in Pudding Lane, Maidstone.

He said: "This is very positive news for the property market."

"I would estimate that at least 50% of the buyers who cross our threshold are coming from out of the area, the vast majority from London."

He said:"A faster rail service is only going to make Maidstone even more attractive to Londoners – they can sell their London home for 500 or 600k, buy here for 400k and bank the rest.

"We already have a large number of people coming in on a Saturday or Sunday from London, just doing a bit of detective work, looking around to see what they could buy."

Mr Dennett said: "This week has been quiet – but that's due to the mortgage situation and fears over interest rates.

"A better train service is certain to help things pick up."

But local rail campaigner James Willis said people should look beyond property prices.

He said: "Yes, potentially a faster connection will potentially lead to more housing demand and push up sales and prices. But the really positive affect is likely to be from business.

"It will facilitate business trips to Maidstone. I understand that currently, Maidstone Studios for example, when they have talent coming down from London they have to pick them up from Ebbsfleet because the rail service to Maidstone is so rubbish.

"With this new service at under an hour, there will be no need for that."