Discover the HS1 High Speed Javelin Train
Embark on your journey with the HS1 Javelin Train, the pinnacle of speed and comfort in the UK rail network. Explore how this high-speed marvel has transformed domestic rail travel.
The Fastest Rail Travel For UK Passengers
Sleek bullet trains have always presented iconic images of Japanese life and culture, and for UK rail travelers they’ve now been creating the same images on Southeastern rail routes for over 15 years.
This UK version of the bullet train is known as the Javelin, and on 12th Dec 2008 the first Javelin train raced into London on its inaugural high speed rail journey. The train quickly cemented its position as a landmark development in the UK’s transportation landscape, offering unparalleled speed and efficiency. As the fastest domestic train service in the UK, it connects key destinations with remarkable ease, significantly reducing travel times.
This high-speed service is a testament to modern engineering and innovation, enhancing connectivity and supporting economic growth across the region.
The good looking, dark blue liveried Javelin trains – also known as Class 395 – offer the fastest domestic service rail travel in the UK and went into full passenger service in December 2009 on the High Speed HS1 rail route.
Built by Hitachi, the 140mph maximum speed Class 395 6-car Javelin train completed the first rail journey from Ashford in Kent to London St Pancras in 37 minutes.
Key Javelin Train Features
Lightning-Fast Speeds
Travel at speeds up to 140 mph, ensuring you reach your destination in record time.
Luxurious Comfort
Enjoy spacious seating and modern amenities designed for a relaxing journey.
Eco-Friendly Travel
Reduce carbon footprint while travelling using energy-efficient train technology.
Routes and Timetables
From the first scheduled service in December 2009, there have been 29 Javelin trains in service with Southeastern rail on the Kent to London (Ashford to Ebbsfleet/Dartford and St Pancras/London via Stratford) domestic rail service and High Speed 1 Channel Tunnel Rail Link routes. The timetables page gives more detail.
Southeastern rail lease the trains from HSBC Rail, and were formed by a joint venture between Go-Ahead and Keolis. For Southeastern, the Javelin route forms part of a near 750 kilometre rail network serving locations to the South and South-East of London.
You’ll find full details of routes covered on the dedicated Javelin routes page.
The popularity of the service to commuters in the further Southeast towns can be gauged by the fact that Dover to London journeys have reportedly increased by close on 50% since the trains first started running.
And the benefits don’t stop there – the whole of the conventional SouthEast rail service has got a boost because longer distance commuters have migrated to High-Speed, leading to an increase in capacity on outlying routes too. Although counties further North of London don’t yet have their own High Speed rail, travellers to those too have also seen a growth in numbers. HS2 is of course planned for future introduction but for now – with the Javelin terminating at St Pancras and the close-by Kings Cross – UK rail commuters have an improved way to get from the South to many other destinations in the North.
What Our Passengers Say
“The HS1 Javelin Train transformed my daily commute. It’s incredibly fast, and I always arrive feeling refreshed and ready for the day.”
“I love the convenience of the Javelin Train. The frequent schedule and comfortable seats make it my preferred choice for travel.”
“Traveling on the HS1 Javelin Train is a pleasure. The speed and service are unmatched, making every journey a delight.”
“The Javelin Train is a game-changer for UK travel. It’s fast, reliable, and the onboard experience is fantastic.”
“I can’t imagine traveling any other way. The HS1 Javelin Train combines speed and comfort perfectly.”
Journey Times
Commuters on the Javelin experience a reduction in previous journey times from around 83 minutes to 37 minutes for the Ashford to London trip. That reduction in travel time extends to stations off the high speed line too, with London to Ramsgate and London to Dover travel times seeing reductions of around 53 and 50 minutes respectively.
Of course there’s an additional price to pay for speed – fares for journeys that run over the section of line that’s able to let the trains run at their highest speed will often see an upward bump in the cost of a trip. This is understandable of course. Clearly the investment required to run – and potentially extend – the service is huge. For example, the Bexhill and Hastings extensions would involve the electrification of the Marshlink Line which runs from Hastings to Ashford and Rye – at a cost of around £100 million.
The cost of tickets does not seem to have deterred rail travellers though. During 2014 over 10 million journeys were completed using the service – an average of about 34000 per day on weekdays – resulting in a record 5th year and seeing an increase in the stations covered in the Javelin timetable. Southeastern also introduced a coastal loop rail service to increase opportunities for other south coast travelers looking for a fast route into and out of London. Services to Ramsgate and Dover were extended to run through Deal and Sandwich to complete the loop.
You’ll find the latest Southeastern high speed timetables here, or visit the Javelin train timetables page here on Javelintrain.com for train time details and ticket options.
Reliability
As of the end of 2014, it was reported that up to 93% of services were pulling in to their destination within five minutes of planned arrival time. The English winter weather does not appear to be wreaking its normal havoc on Javelin routes, with the power supplied to the trains via overhead electric supply as opposed to the third rail ‘under train’ power that drives traditional routes.