On Monday 14 December, the first full services of the 140mph Japanese-built bullet trains began operating between London and Kent.  Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis and double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes hosted the event marking the first official journey.

Transport Secretary, Andrew Adonis said, "These fantastic new services, made possible by the Government's investment in this £5.8bn high speed new line, are changing the transport map of Kent. Journey times have shrunk dramatically, bringing regeneration and new opportunities for investment."

The Class 395 Javelin trains run on rail sections 'High Speed one (HS1)' which are part of the London to Folkestone Channel Tunnel rail link. The journey time of London communters will be slashed with Southeastern Trains stating that the service cuts journey times from Dover to London from more than two hours to just 69 minutes.