Virgin Trains has received approval from the UK’s Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to operate up to 20 daily return trains between London and European cities Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam starting from 1 October 2030 through to 31 December 2040.
Virgin Trains Secures Track Access on High Speed 1 Line
The track access agreement granted by ORR covers the High Speed 1 (HS1) railway segment between London St Pancras station and the Channel Tunnel. Virgin Trains plans to run services to the same city stations served by Eurostar, including Paris Gare du Nord, Brussels-Midi, and Amsterdam Centraal. In October 2025, Virgin Trains also secured permission to share Eurostar’s Temple
Mills depot in east London for train maintenance and storage, the only depot accessible from HS1.
Investment, Jobs, and Pending European Approvals
Virgin Trains, founded by Richard Branson, intends to invest £700 million into the cross-Channel rail project. The company estimates creation of approximately 400 UK jobs related to these new international routes. Despite the UK track access approval, Virgin must still negotiate with Getlink, the Channel Tunnel operator, for tunnel access and obtain safety and operational permits from European Union regulators before launching full services.
Eurostar Monopoly and Fleet Developments
Eurostar has maintained a monopoly on cross-Channel passenger rail since the Channel Tunnel opened in 1994. The operator currently runs
about 30 daily services from London St Pancras, operating at approximately 50% capacity. Eurostar has faced criticism for high fares and the reduction of some international services over the last decade. The company is investing £1.7 billion in a new fleet of double-decker Celestia trains scheduled to enter service in 2031, which will expand capacity on its London to Frankfurt and Geneva routes.
Regulatory and Industry Perspectives
Martin Jones, deputy director of access and international at ORR, called the track access approval an “important next step” for introducing competition and growth in international rail services. London St Pancras Highspeed, the station operator, supports the
ORR decision, highlighting plans to increase international passenger capacity to 5,000 per hour by optimizing existing space despite the station’s Grade I listed status limiting physical expansion. A Virgin Group spokesperson stated, “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.”
Impact on UK-Europe Rail Travel
The introduction of Virgin Trains to cross-Channel services marks the end of Eurostar’s nearly 30-year monopoly. Starting in 2030, travelers will have additional options linking London to
Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam through the Channel Tunnel. Competition between Virgin Trains and Eurostar could lead to expanded service choices and potential fare adjustments for international rail travelers. Eurostar confirmed its commitment to growth, planning to carry 30 million passengers annually and continue fleet investment.
