Virgin Group secured approval from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) in August 2026 to relaunch Virgin Trains with a cross-Channel rail service operating 20 daily return journeys through the Channel Tunnel. This new service aims to compete directly with Eurostar by utilizing underused tunnel capacity.
Routes Including Stratford International and French Destinations
Virgin Trains plans to run initial services between London St Pancras and key European destinations served by Eurostar: Paris Gare du Nord, Brussels-Midi, and Amsterdam Centraal. The company is also exploring international stops at Stratford International station in east London, which was proposed as part of its July 2025 ORR submission for service
expansion.
Commercial Opportunity and Political Support for Stratford Station
East Ham MP Sir Stephen Timms emphasized the commercial potential of stopping at Stratford International, calling it a “big and fast-growing commercial opportunity.” Timms urged Virgin to include Stratford among its stops, supporting the expansion of international rail travel options in east London.
Current Use of Stratford International and Other Proposed Stops
Despite its name, Stratford International station does not currently serve international trains. It is used by Southeastern’s domestic high-speed services between London and Kent and by the Docklands Light Railway. Virgin is also considering reintroducing stops at Ebbsfleet and Ashford in Kent—stations formerly served by Eurostar prior to Eurostar’s consolidation of London departures exclusively from St
Pancras since 2020.
Virgin Group confirmed active stakeholder engagement to explore additional stops beyond its initial launch service, explicitly including Stratford International.
Wendy Spinks, Chief Commercial Officer at London St Pancras Highspeed, highlighted increased overcrowding issues at St Pancras due to expanded security and border processing, factors that could influence the attractiveness of alternative London stations for international services.
Virgin’s Expansion Ambitions and Channel Tunnel Capacity
The Channel Tunnel is currently utilized at only 50 percent capacity by Eurostar. Virgin’s plan to operate 20 daily return journeys aims to unlock unused tunnel capacity, providing a direct cross-Channel competitor. A Virgin Group spokesperson said, “Virgin’s ambition extends beyond
its initial launch plans, and we’ve been actively engaging with stakeholders to explore future expansion.” This positions Virgin to potentially broaden London’s international rail options in the near future.
