Global Edition

Sports Minister Flags Fast Track to The Open

8.02am 27th May 2011 - Travel

(l-r) Charles Horton, Managing Director, Southeastern, Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and The Olympics, Mike Tate, Director, The R&A (Getty Images)

Sports Minister Hugh Robertson was at St Pancras International station on Wednesday to wave off the High Speed train service expected to take 50,000 golf fans to The Open Championship at Sandwich this year (10 – 17 July 2011).

Operated by Southeastern, the High Speed trains are set to take just 80 minutes to connect central London with the Kent coast town, leaving a short walk to The Open at Royal St George’s.

The service cuts 55 minutes from the standard journey time with travel for accompanied five to 15-year-olds qualifying for the train operators ‘Kids for a Quid’ promotion (Terms and Conditions apply). The news on the cost of children’s travel comes on top of The Open Championship’s established ticketing policy that accompanied under-16’s are admitted free.

Commenting as he waved off a trial running of the service, Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson said: “The High Speed train service makes it a lot easier for people to enjoy what the Kent coastline has to offer, especially those golf fans who will be making their way from the capital to watch the world’s top golfers at The Open Championship at Sandwich in July.”

Accompanied under-16s have been admitted free to The Open Championship since 1997 and The R&A predicts the 250,000th free admission this year.

The Southeastern High Speed service from St Pancras to Sandwich will operate at half hourly intervals on championship days (14 – 17 July 2011) for an adult return fare of £38.20. Adult entry to The Open Championship is £55.00 if purchased before 30 June 2011.

The Open Championship www.Opengolf.com

Southeastern High Speed services to Sandwich www.southeasternrailways.co.uk

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