by Martin Jefferies

Thanet commuters hopped on board Southeastern's next generation high speed trains for the first time on Monday (September 7).

The rail company is trialling its new service, which will cut journey times to London by 49 minutes, prior to an official launch later this year.

Peak-time 'preview' trains will depart Ramsgate for St Pancras International at 6am and 7.05am, with return services arriving at 6.45pm and 8.45pm.

Previously, only Ashford and Ebbsfleet commuters had been able to sample the speedy service.

The new, Hitachi-designed trains can reach 140mph, with journies from Ramsgate to and from the capital taking as little as 79 minutes.

Charles Horton, Southeastern's managing director, 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."

Although Ramsgate is the only Thanet station to be included in Southeastern's trial timetable, high speed trains will call at Margate, Broadstairs, Birchington-on-Sea and Minster-in-Thanet when the full service starts in December.

Passengers wanting to use the Ramsgate preview service will pay more for the privilege.

Return journies to London will cost £55.10 - 17 per cent more than the same trip on a conventional, mainline train.

Weekly season tickets are priced at £114.40 - an increase of almost a fifth.