A HIGH speed rail service from Kent to London should be a top priority, one of the county's Euro MPs, Mark Watts, said this week.

Labour's European Parliament transport spokesman met staff from the Strategic Rail Authority in Brussels to discuss a fast domestic service through Ashford together with halts at Ramsgate, Dover, Canterbury and the Medway towns, once the Channel Tunnel Rail Link opens in 2007.

Mr Watts said: "These new fast domestic services will revolutionise rail travel in Kent and the economic prospects of the county as a whole. While fast domestic services to Ashford and Ebbsfleet are almost guaranteed, we must continue to make the case for direct services to places like Folkestone."

The Kentish Express has backed the Shepway District Council-launched Rail for Folkestone campaign which wants a swift service to run between the town and the capital along the new track. The campaign cites a journey time of 48 minutes as opposed to the present one hour 40 minutes.