Javelin train speeds into London (BBC News)
 

A government minister travels on a new high-speed rail service from Kent that will transport Olympic Games spectators.

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We can ALL start cheering when these speeds are sustained between Paddington (or Waterloo) and the South West of England. It is a pity that the olympics arn't being held here in Devon.

train speed to Devon
 

As far as I remember, the High Speed Trains from Paddington to Bristol and Plymouth, long ago named "intercity 125", were the fastest commercial DIESEL HAULED trains in the world.

Devon has not always been forgotten!

The Yachting IS being held at Weymouth. Bet they'll have fun getting there from London !

I find one aspect of this sad. The train is Japanese built. Politicians have a lot to answer for in my book. Why dont we build trains anymore? What is wrong with British engineers, building British trains?
I mean British trains, not a kit of parts to put together after they have been sent from abroad.
We dont build them because for as long as I can remember we dont back our own people, we just sell our industry off for next to nowt.
Rant over.
Paul.

Paul I wholeheartedly agree that I would like to see these, as British made ... but ... at least they're not the b* awful 465's that just haven't been maintained internally or the 'standing room only' 466's that I seem to spend half my life on. Compared with the 357's on LTS that I use the rest of the time, they are grim! We really are the poor relations in North Kent at the present.

I'm so excited about my journey time to London coming down to 17 minutes (from Ebbsfleet to SPI) instead of the normal 50 ish to Charring Cross or Cannon Street and having to suffer the interminable bottle neck and slow speed running at London Bridge, at least until the Thameslink works are completed - when they eventually start. Yipee!

With Crossrail coming to my part of the world at Abbey Wood (sometime) and DLR from Woolwich Arsenal in the new year, I'm going to be spoilt for choice. As much as it grieves me to say it, the planners have got it at least half right and we could well get rid of one of the cars.

But how much are they going to charge you for the privilege ?

.... and if you really want to you can soon have your own 4mm model of Javelin!!!