[original thread on uk.raiwlay]
[x-posted to uk.transport.london]

embers25 wrote:
SouthEastern have finally revealed the times and supplements for their
trial HS1 service starting on June 29th.

http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk..._items/view/94


Thanks for the heads up. For the record, I'll just copy a bit of that
press release below:
---quote---
Southeastern today confirmed that a limited high speed ‘preview’
service will begin on the 29 June. The preview service will run on
High Speed 1 between Ashford International, Ebbsfleet International
and St Pancras International from Monday to Friday.The preview service
will offer passengers the chance to experience what the UK’s first
high speed service will be like when it is fully introduced on 13
December.

The preview services will also allow Southeastern to continue testing,
training, adjust to passenger feedback and ensure that the full
introduction of the service runs smoothly.

The high speed service will radically improve travel times for many
passengers, using the High Speed 1. Journey times from Ashford
International to London will be just 37 minutes and from Ebbsfleet
International the journey will take just 17 minutes. The preview
service will run three morning peak services from Ashford
International to St Pancras International and three peak services in
the evening peak. Trains from Ebbsfleet International will see four
morning peak services to St Pancras International and six peak
services back in the evening peak. Throughout the day services will
run twice hourly between Ebbsfleet International and St Pancras
International. The full timetable can be seen below.
---/quote---


So, they'll only be offering peak time trains from Ashford during this
preview service, but there'll be an all day half-hourly service from
Ebbsfleet.

A few other things I noted - "all first class ticket holders are able
to travel on the high speed service for no extra cost". Also, AIUI the
class 395 trains are classless.

Southeastern have decided to use the term "Mainline" to differentiate
their regular services from the High-speed service - previously many
observers here seem to have copied the French terminology by speaking
of "Classic" lines.

And lastly the timetable notes a "Daylight HS1 track inspection"
period around noon, though then goes on to say that "Currently track
engineers inspect high speed infrastructure during daylight hours.
This is being reviews for the start of the full service in December
2009."

I hadn't entirely realised there was an LGV style 'black-out' period
during the day (though that's not the right term but I forget the
correct one) on HS1 at the moment.


Supplements seem quite hefty but I get the impression when the real
service kicks in they will be even higher.

The formula for the 'via HS1' fares premium is no secret, it's
published in the Southeastern franchise documents. The Ashford
supplement for the preview service is the same as for the full service
and is in line with this formula.