Faster train from Hastings to London to launch in December 2026
The new service will cut 14 minutes off the journey into the capital
Last updated 1 day ago
A new faster train linking Hastings to London is set to launch in December 2026.
The service will get commuters into the capital in just 78 minutes, cutting 14 minutes off the current journey time.
It follows a campaign by Helena Dollimore, the Labour and Co-operative MP for Hastings, Rye and the villages, who lobbied South Eastern Railway for a quicker service.
What the new service involves
The train will call at Hastings, St Leonards Warrior Square, Battle and Tunbridge Wells before arriving in London.
It will run Monday to Friday, with one service in the morning and one in the evening.
The morning service will depart Hastings at 08:05 and arrive at Charing Cross at 09:33, while the return will leave Charing Cross at 16:11 and arrive back in Hastings at 17:42.
It will be formed of four coaches, with 2 plus 2 seating and tables.
South Eastern Railway said the service will be trialled as a pilot to assess demand.
The campaign behind it
Helena Dollimore launched a residents' survey which saw thousands of responses in favour of a faster train, and met with the Rail Minister to discuss her proposals.
Helena Dollimore said: "Brilliant news for our area: a new fast train to London is coming in December 2026.
"Securing a faster train service for our town has been one of my top priorities as our local MP. When we are almost the same distance from London as Brighton, why should our train take twice as long? This new service is great news for commuters and for our local shops, hotels, pubs, and restaurants that rely on tourists coming down to visit us.
"The service will call at Hastings, St Leonards Warrior Square, Battle, and Tunbridge Wells before arriving in London after just 78 minutes. The train will run Monday-Friday, with one in the morning, one in the evening.
"This new fast train will be a pilot service. If we want it to stay, we all must use it to show the demand. I will keep pushing for better transport services in our area, including reopening Ashford International to cross-channel trains, pushing for action on missed connections on the Marshlink, and upgrading the track connecting Ashford, Rye, Hastings, Eastbourne and Brighton."
What South Eastern Railway said
Scott Brightwell, South Eastern Railway's Safety, Planning and Performance Director, said: "We know how important fast and frequent services are to our customers and are constantly looking at how we can deliver better services that meet the needs of the communities we serve. This new Hastings Express service will shave 14 mins off the journey into London in the morning and home in the afternoon.
"We are a growing railway and looking forward to trialling these new services to assess their demand and benefit to customers.
"It's also part of a much bigger package of improvements in December. We're providing more trains to Tunbridge Wells, Ashford and Maidstone East, creating a more frequent Metro network across south-east London and delivering improvements on other routes across Kent and East Sussex."