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I've just seen some images on TV of the new Javelin trains, soon to be delivered to the UK. Made by Hitachi with a high level of secrecy. Photos of the real deal are hard to come by. The one that the mayor of London presented last year was a 1:1 model.
Some info on the new £5.8bn Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL):
Some info on the new £5.8bn Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL):
The Javelin:The link between Ebbsfleet in North Kent to St Pancras station in London will cut around 20 minutes off Eurostar journeys from London to Paris.
In 2009, domestic services on high-speed trains will also be using part of the CTRL - reducing journey times in and out of London.
Then in 2012, spectators will be whisked from St Pancras to the Olympic site in Stratford, east London, on "javelin" trains.
The completed 68-mile Folkestone to St Pancras CTRL is to be renamed High Speed 1.
The first phase - from Folkestone to Ebbsfleet - was opened in September 2003, shaving about 20 minutes off London to Paris and Brussels journey times.
Eurostar trains, which began services in 1994, will continue running into the present Channel Tunnel terminal at Waterloo station in London right up to November 13, 2007.
"This move will be the most significant event in Eurostar's history since we started running passenger services 12 years ago today," Eurostar chief executive Richard Brown said.
"It will mark the start of a new era in travel between the UK and mainland Europe, making high-speed rail an even faster, more reliable and less environmentally damaging alternative to flying."
The international terminal at Waterloo will be returned to the Government, which has promised to re-use the platforms to reduce congestion for domestic commuter trains.
Eurostar will also be launching services from Ebbsfleet International, a new station just off junction 2 of the M25, close to the Bluewater shopping centre near Dartford in Kent.
The new Hitachi 'A Train' electric multiple units that will provide the Olympic Javelin service.
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A total of 28 Hitachi Olympic Javelin 'A Train' electric multiple units capable of 140mph were ordered for the high-speed domestic commuter services on the CTRL and intensive Javelin service.
The trains, which are worth £250m, are being built using Japanese 'Bullet train' technology and are due to be delivered by 2009. The Olympic Park will be served by one of these trains every 15 seconds, providing space for 25,000 passengers from the city centre.