New Hastings to London fast train set for December

A new fast train from Hastings to London is expected to cut peak journey times by as much as 14 minutes.

Rail operator Southeastern said it was launching an express weekday service from December as part of a wider timetable to deliver more frequent services, better connections and increased capacity across south-east London, Kent and East Sussex.

The fast train will stop at St Leonards Warrior Square, Battle, Tunbridge Wells, London Bridge, Waterloo East and Charing Cross, the firm said.

The morning service will leave Hastings at 08:05 and arrive at Charing Cross at 09:33, with a return train departing from Charing Cross at 16:11 and arriving at Hastings at 17:42, it added.

Southastern said the trip at its fastest would take one hour and 18 minutes from Hastings to London Bridge, and one hour and 28 minutes to Charing Cross - about 14 minutes quicker than the fastest current service.

The company said it was not the only improvement it had lined up.

It said there would also be:

• Half-hourly "semi-fast services" between Tunbridge Wells and Charing Cross throughout the day on weekdays and Saturdays
• More late-evening journeys to and from Hastings
• More frequent services on the Maidstone East line, extra direct trains to Charing Cross and a new train to Charing Cross every hour on Sundays
• Isle of Sheppey customers at Sheerness-on-Sea, Queenborough and Kemsley would get trains every 30 minutes throughout the day, seven days a week

Southeastern planning chief Scott Brightwell said: "This new Hastings Express service will shave 14 mins off the journey into London in the morning and three minutes home in the afternoon.

"We are a growing railway and looking forward to trialling these new services to assess their demand and benefit to customers."

Rail minister Lord Hendy said: "A better-connected railway will support growth, jobs and homes across the South East."

Hastings and Rye MP Helena Dollimore said securing a faster train service had been one of her priorities.

It was, she said, "brilliant news."