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Last Updated: Monday, 12 November 2007, 19:35 GMT
Police ready for high speed line
A Eurostar train at St Pancras
Eurostar trains will begin operating from Ebbsfleet next Monday
Railway police have said they are "ready and eager" to meet the challenge of the UK's new high speed rail line.

Eurostar is preparing to move to the line, which will run from St Pancras International from Wednesday.

British Transport Police will cover international stations at Ebbsfleet and Ashford, in Kent, and St Pancras and Stratford in London.

Ch Insp Jeff Boothe promised "a world class policing service for this world class railway".

Commuter service

Initially 75 police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) will operate 24 hours a day on a five-shift pattern.

This will rise to 100 when Stratford International opens in 2009.

"We will be undertaking high visibility patrols, but we will also be intelligence-led to make the best use of our resources and working with partners locally in a joint problem solving approach," said Ch Insp Boothe.

Eurostar switches its London terminal from Waterloo station to St Pancras on Wednesday, with trains from Ebbsfleet International running from next Monday.

From December 2009, Southeastern trains will offer an express commuter service between St Pancras, Ashford and the Kent coast.

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