£20m bullet trains to serve Olympic Park

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling announced plans to build 30 new high-speed trains which will operate the Olympic Javelin, the shuttle service at the centre of London's transport plans.

The Olympic Javelin will run between central London and the Olympic Park for the duration of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

The average journey time between King's Cross/St Pancras and Stratford will be just seven minutes.

London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe welcomed the news as a boost for London's plans to provide the best-ever transport service for the Games.

He said: "This is fantastic news and shows that London 2012 is on track for great transport during the Games.

"The Olympic Javelin service is our secret weapon. It will provide a fast, efficient service for spectators, running between King's Cross and the Olympic Park - the centrepiece of our plans.

"We are putting in place a comprehensive Olympic transport plan for the duration of the Games."

The Olympic Park in east London will be served by one train every 15 seconds, providing a total capacity of 240,000 per hour.

More than 80 per cent of spectators are expected to travel to and from venues by rail.

The new trains will come into operation by 2009, and will be capable of reaching speeds of 140mph while operating on both domestic railway tracks and the new high-speed channel tunnel rail link.

Mr Darling confirmed that Hitachi - manufacturer of the distinctive Japanese 'Bullet' train - were the preferred bidder for the contract.

Speaking at a tour of the new terminal buildings at King's Cross/St Pancras, he said: "We're today confirming the new high-speed domestic service which will make use of the new channel tunnel rail link.

"This service will also be the flagship transport scheme to deliver people to and from the Games should the UK bid be successful."

28 October 2004