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Winners and losers in the high speed train race

The winners are Sevenoaks, Ashford and Ebbsfleet; the big loser is Chestfield. Southeastern has published its timetable for new high speed and mainline services, which will come into effect by the end of this year.

Several places in Kent - including Ebbsfleet, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and Ramsgate - get new high speed trains, but the county council fears high fares could outweigh the benefits of high speeds and put the regeneration of north and east Kent at risk.

The county council is concerned that people will not move to Kent from London if they have to pay too much to commute into the capital.

Passengers have already raised concerns that tickets for the high speed trains, which are due to come on track on December 13, could cost up to 30 per cent more. The council is worried that these increases, along with yearly price rises - which went up by 10 per cent in several Kent towns this year - will negate the savings in terms of time.

A report will be presented at transport board meeting on Tuesday, which promises: “The county council will press for lower introductory fares to ensure passengers do take advantage of these services.”

*#149; KCC would also like to see - and is exploring - the possibilities of extending London’s Oyster Card scheme into Kent.

The winners and the losers of the new train timetable:

There were fears the new high speed line could lead to cuts on the existing lines, but several places in Kent have gained services on the existing lines.

Overall Kent gets more services at 47 stations and decreases at 14 stations.

The winners of the new high speed trains are:

Ebbsfleet +12 peak-time trains*

Ashford +8

Canterbury West +7

Gravesend +6

Dover, Folkestone West and Central +5

Ramsgate and Broadstairs +4

Faversham and Sittingbourne +3

Herne Bay, Whitstable, Birchington +1

The winners benefiting from extra trains on existing 'slow' lines include:

Sevenoaks +9 peak time trains

Tonbridge +6

Dartford +3

Marden +3

Pluckley +3

Tunbridge Wells +2

The losers are:

Chestfield - which loses 3 peak time trains

Dumpton Park, Newington, Teynham and Westgate - which lose 2

Chartham, Chilham, Minster, Sturry, Higham, Northfleet, Meopham, Sole Street and Stone Crossing all lose 1.

Maidstone is the only large town not to get an increase in services at peak times.

Passengers who are prepared to pay more and want to arrive at St Pancras will be able to get from:

Ashford to London in 37 mins (down from 1hr 24 mins)

Folkestone West in 49 mins(down from 1hr 39mins)

Dover Priory in 1hr 4mins (down from 1 hr 56 mins)

Canterbury West in 1hr 1min (down from 1hr 50 mins)

Ramsgate in 1hr 21mins (down from 2hrs 9mins)

Peak times are between 7am and 10am and 4pm and 7pm

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