Virgin Trains has taken a major step toward ending Eurostar's 30-year monopoly on Channel Tunnel services, after the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) granted approval for the company to run up to 20 new daily return journeys between the UK and continental Europe. The track access agreement, covering the period from October 1, 2030 to December 31, 2040, means passengers could board a Virgin train from London St Pancras to Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam within just over four years.
Approval marks key milestone in Virgin's cross-Channel plans
Virgin first announced its intention to challenge Eurostar in January 2025, with Sir Richard Branson vowing to "shake-up the cross-Channel route for good and give consumers the choice they deserve." The company's first breakthrough came in October last year, when the ORR permitted Virgin to use the Temple Mills International rail depot, the only facility accessible from High Speed 1, to maintain its fleet of 12 trains.
Virgin's submission was the first significant challenge to Eurostar's dominance since the operator began running services in 1994. Alongside improving passenger choice, the company aims to enhance the onboard experience, with bookings linked to its Virgin Red rewards programme to attract existing Eurostar customers.
Remaining hurdles and potential northern expansion
While receiving track access is an "important next step," the ORR has stressed that significant work remains before the service can launch. Virgin must secure access to other rail networks and obtain safety approvals from all relevant EU regulators. If successful, the company 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. The representative 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."
Italian rival moves ahead with €2 billion train order
While Virgin makes progress, another competitor is pulling ahead. Italy's state-owned railway, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Group), expects to launch its own London-to-Paris route by 2029. Through its subsidiary Trenitalia France, the railway has placed a €2 billion (£1.7 billion) order with Hitachi Rail for 19 high-speed trains, announced on August 7. The agreement also includes 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," an integrated high-speed network connecting Europe's major cities.
