High Speed 1

High Speed 1 (HS1) is Britain’s most exciting new railway, linking the Channel Tunnel with London.

Originally known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), this fast reliable and environmentally friendly service is shaping the future of rail travel, and Ashford is one of its principal beneficiaries.

• HS1 provides the outstanding 38 minute rail service from Ashford to London St Pancras, which has slashed journey times to the captial from 88 minutes.
• HS1 is also used by Eurostar trains, linking St Pancras International with Paris (2hr 15min) and Brussels (1h51min), with connecting services linking Ashford to more than 100 destinations throughout Europe, including Disneyland Paris and French ski resorts
• Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International Stations complement each other as the two major stations along the HS1 route. Combined they have resulted in an increase in services for Kent by a third, strengthening the county’s key position as the crossroads between the UK and the continent.
• Via HS1, the UK is now fully connected to 2,330 miles of the rapidly expanding European high speed network

What about domestic services on HS1?

On 14th December 2009, Southeastern launched full domestic services on HS1. Using the latest generation Hitachi (bullet-type) trains, Ashford is one of the UK’s only towns to benefit from high-speed rail travel and now boosts enviable connections to both London and Europe.

For more information about the domestic service - CLICK HERE

Travel times to London with the HS1 service