Rail bosses have announced the timetable for a new service to take passengers from Sussex to Continental Europe within two hours.

From December an hourly Brighton to Ashford express service will connect with the Eurostar line.

Passengers will be able to change at Ashford International for destinations across Europe, including Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.

Turbostar diesel trains will call at Lewes, Polegate, Eastbourne, Bexhill, St Leonards Warrior Square, Hastings and Rye.

The new Brighton to Ashford express service is being heralded as a boost for the county's economy and the tourism industry.

Rail company Southern has just published the draft timetable, which shows the journey from Brighton will take one hour, 41 minutes; Eastbourne one hour, ten minutes; Hastings 43 minutes; and Rye 20 minutes.

Paris is just under two hours from Ashford International by rail, while Brussels is two-and-a-half hours.

Passengers are currently put off travelling to Ashford by rail from much of East Sussex as it involves slow trains and changing at Hastings. The journey can take three hours.

Ken Bodfish, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "This will give a boost to the city and the economy of East Sussex.

"We are encouraging more and more links with Europe as we become more of a European city.

"Having this rail link will mean passengers will no longer have to travel to London by train to get on Eurostar at Waterloo.

"It means you could be in Paris within four hours of leaving Brighton by rail.

"Southern should be congratulated on starting this service and I wish them luck."

John Stanaway, of customer pressure group Rail Future (Coastway) Division, said: "This is very good news for the whole of southern England.

"It is important for tourism as people will no longer have to travel to and from Waterloo to get a decent connection."

Southern is asking for comments about the new timetable via its web site www.southernrailway.com Friday, August 19 2005