Virgin Trains has been granted track access by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to operate passenger rail services between London and major European cities including Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam from 1 October 2030.
The track access agreement allows Virgin Trains to run up to 20 daily return services on the High Speed 1 (HS1) line between London St Pancras and the Channel Tunnel from 1 October 2030 to 31 December 2040. The company has secured rights to share Eurostar’s Temple Mills depot in east London for train maintenance and storage, the only depot accessible from HS1.
Virgin Trains
plans to operate on the same routes currently served by Eurostar, linking London St Pancras with Paris Gare du Nord, Brussels-Midi, and Amsterdam Centraal stations. The company is investing £700 million in the cross-Channel project and expects to create about 400 jobs in the UK.
Ending Eurostar’s Cross-Channel Monopoly
Eurostar, controlled by the French rail operator SNCF, has held a monopoly on passenger services through the Channel Tunnel since 1994. Virgin Trains’ new track access marks a challenge to this 30-year exclusive position amid growing demand for international rail travel from the UK. The Channel Tunnel currently operates at about 50% capacity, leaving room
for new operators. Eurostar has faced criticism over high prices and a shrinking route network in recent years.
Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, said it was “time to end this 30-year monopoly and bring some Virgin magic to the cross-Channel route.”
Regulatory Statements and Next Steps
Martin Jones, deputy director of access and international at the ORR, called the approval “an important next step in bringing competition and growth to the market for international rail services,” while noting more work is needed for Virgin to secure access to mainland European rail networks and safety approvals from EU regulators.
A Virgin Group spokesperson said, “Our plans for a new London – Europe rail service from 2030 are moving at pace. We welcome the ORR’s pre-approval of our track access
agreement and the opportunity to bring competition and Virgin’s award-winning customer experience to the Channel Tunnel.”
Eurostar stated the decision confirms potential growth for international rail, expressing intent to participate by investing in its fleet and aiming to carry 30 million passengers annually.
Remaining Approvals Required Before Launch
Virgin Trains must still secure regulatory approval for operations through the Channel Tunnel itself and access to various European rail networks before starting services in 2030. Virgin previously operated intercity routes in the UK including London to Glasgow before focusing on this cross-Channel project amid broader expansion plans in international rail travel.
