London's new bullet train

Britain's answer to Japan's bullet train is to be introduced on a London commuter route.

It will run on the new Channel Tunnel Rail Link through Kent and be capable of 140mph - the fastest domestic service in the country and the first new commuter route for a century.

This will dramatically cut journey times from stations such as Ashford and Ebbsfleet and finally phase out 40-year-old slam-door trains.

Today's announcement also provides a huge boost to London's bid to host the 2012 Olympics as the ?20million trains will provide a shuttle service between St Pancras and the proposed Olympic stadium in Stratford.

The new service was described as the "jewel in the crown" of the bid and will speed spectators between central and east London in less than eight minutes. London has only three weeks left to finalise its bid to host the Games and will be hoping the go-ahead for the "javelin shuttle" will see it overtake favourites Paris and Madrid.

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