Content
Southeastern Highspeed / Southeastern Javelin (UK)
Welcome to the guide to travelling on Britain's fastest train service.
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At a Glance
Travel Pass Supplement
Rail Pass Reservation Fees
Reservations
Not Available
Time of Day
Day
Accessibility
Accessing the train
Wheelchair Spaces
Bikes Allowed
Train Specification
Attributes of the train
Has a Conductor
High Speed (partial journey)
Country
Which country these trains operate in.
Great Britain
Travel Comforts
WiFi
Travel Passes
Eurail
InterRail
On Board
Standard
Perks
WiFi
A complimentary WiFi portal is available throughout this train.
Power Socket (UK)
The power sockets on this train are compatible with the standard 3-point plugs as typically used in the UK.
Travel summary:
These ‘Javelin’ services travel at 225 km/h (140 mph) on the high speed line between London and Kent, which they share with international Eurostar services, hence the branding they carry of ‘Britain’s fastest train’.
In common with the majority of trains which operate between London and south-east England, these trains were designed to accommodate both commuters and leisure travellers, so they lack some of the features typically found on long-distance express trains, such as on-board catering facilities.
Unusually for a train service in south-east England, first-class seating is not available on these trains.
However, due to the comparatively short transit times, the high speed London <> Ashford journey typically takes only 39 minutes, that won’t be an issue.
What matters more is the speed and reliability - particularly as these Javelin services don’t have to share the route between London and Ashford with slower trains.
Boarding:
In common with trains on other ‘commuter routes’ to/from London, seat reservations aren’t available, but ShowMeTheJourney is a regular user of these trains outside business hours and we have yet to board a departure at St Pancras on which seats weren’t available.
Though to maximise your chances of finding a seat, being at St Pancras International station ready to board with a ticket in hand, a minimum of 10 minutes before departure, can be a good idea.
When heading to London, if need be, walk through the train to find unoccupied seats – the coaches on services to London tend to be less busy towards the rear of the train.
Priority seating marked by a letter ‘P’ is available by the doors for travellers who require a seat, so other passengers are requested to sit elsewhere.
Each coach on these trains has luggage racks by the doors, so if you see space on the rack, take advantage of it when boarding and then look for a seat.
More information regarding travelling with luggage.
Main routes:
These trains are typically primarily used on these routes (the use of International in some of the station names has been omitted for clarity)
- London St Pancras - Stratford International - Ebbsfleet - Ashford - Canterbury West - Ramsgate* - Broadstairs* - Margate* as per southeastern timetable 1
- London St Pancras - Stratford International - Ebbsfleet - Ashford - Folkestone - Dover Priory - Martin Mill - Walmer - Deal - Sandwich - Ramsgate (some services terminate at Dover) as per southeastern timetable 1
- London St Pancras - Stratford International - Ebbsfleet - Gravesend - Strood - Rochester - Chatham - Gillingham - Sittingbourne - Faversham - Whitstable - Herne Bay - Birchington - Margate - Broadstairs - Ramsgate (some services terminate at Faversham) as per southeastern timetable 2
*= the fastest journey time to these destinations are the trains which travel via Canterbury
Good to know info
ShowMeTheJourney has anticipated what questions are most often asked about travelling on Southeastern Highspeed / Javelin trains and answered them below.
If you can't find the information you are seeking, you can ask a question by using the Travel Planning Service.
How fast does the train travel?
When travelling on [the HS1 high-speed line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Speed_1, these trains travel at up to 140mph / 225kmh - faster than any other train on domestic routes within the UK!
Are seats allocated when booking tickets?
The operator Southeastern doesn't offer seat reservations on its services, but it does offer a SeatFinder service, to enable travellers to identify which specific departures will have the highest number of available seats.
What catering is available on the train?
None - so purchase food and drink pre-boarding.
Are power sockets available?
The power-sockets are under each set of seats.
Is Wi-Fi available?
The Southeastern trains Wi-fi portal is both free to use and easy to access, though connectivity is not available in the lengthy tunnels between London and Ebbsfleet.
The portal tends to be very reliable on the other sections of the route.
What is the luggage policy?
See the info on the southeastern website.
Are wheelchair spaces available?
Yes - See the info on the southeastern website.
Can non-folding bikes be taken on board?
Non-folding bicycles can be taken on any departure, except for services on Monday to Friday working days which arrive in London between 07:00 and 10:00 and depart from London between 16:00 and 19:00 – more information is available here.
However if journey is within Kent and ends before Ashford and Gillingham (on the routes taken by these trains) you can take your bike with you at any time - subject to space being available.
Can dogs be taken on board?
Yes, up to two dogs can be taken on board per passenger and they don't require tickets.
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