Virgin Trains has moved a step closer to ending Eurostar's 30-year monopoly of the Channel Tunnel after securing track access for new services between London and Europe. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has approved Sir Richard Branson's company to run up to 20 new daily return journeys from the UK to the continent.
Approval and timeline
The agreement covers the period from October 1, 2030, to December 31, 2040, meaning passengers could board a Virgin Train from London St Pancras to Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam in just over four years. Virgin first announced its plans to challenge Eurostar in January 2025.
Branson declared: 'We're going to shake-up the cross-Channel route for good and give consumers the choice they deserve.' The company's first 'major breakthrough' came in October last year, when the ORR permitted the operator to use the Temple Mills International rail depot to maintain its fleet of 12 trains. Temple Mills is currently the only depot accessible from High Speed 1, the line connecting London to the Channel Tunnel.
Passenger benefits and rewards
Virgin's submission was the first significant challenge to Eurostar's dominance since the route began in 1994. The company aims to improve choice for passengers and inject joy into their journey, with bookings connected to its rewards programme, Virgin Red.
While receiving track access was an 'important next step', the ORR stressed that more work is needed before the service can run. Virgin must secure access to other rail networks and obtain safety approvals from all relevant regulators in the EU.
Expansion beyond London
In its submission, Virgin outlined plans to extend its network beyond London, with stops in Birmingham and Manchester. A Virgin representative previously told Metro that stopping in Kent is also a possibility, after Eurostar services at Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International stations were suspended in 2020. They said: 'Reopening the stations to be able to accommodate international services requires commitment and resources from all parties and potential competitors involved. But if the stations are opened, Virgin will stop in Kent.'
Competition from Italy
Meanwhile, Italy's state-owned railway, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Group), is expected to launch its own London to Paris route by 2029. Through its subsidiary Trenitalia France, the railway placed a €2 billion (£1.7 billion) order with Hitachi Rail for 19 high-speed trains. The agreement, announced on August 7, also covers the construction of an €80 million (£68 million) maintenance facility at Maisons-Alfort Pompadour near Paris. Gianpiero Strisciuglio, chief executive and general manager of FS Italiane Group, said the project is 'central' to the group's vision of the 'Metro of Europe,' the 'integrated high-speed network that will increasingly connect Europe's major cities.'
