Londoners could soon have a new way to travel by train to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam after Virgin Trains was granted track access to launch Channel Tunnel services from 2030.
This move puts Sir Richard Branson’s company in direct competition with Eurostar, which has operated a passenger service monopoly through the tunnel since 1994, and opens the door for up to 20 new daily return journeys.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has approved Virgin Trains’ application to operate international routes between London and the three continental cities.
Martin Jones, deputy director of access and international at the ORR, said: “This is an important next step in bringing competition and growth to the market for international rail services, and we welcome the progress Virgin Trains and London St Pancras High Speed have made.
“While there is still more work to do, we are supporting Virgin and the wider industry to grow international services.”
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The approval covers a 10-year period from October 1, 2030, to December 31, 2040, and marks another regulatory milestone for Virgin.
Last October, the company was granted access to Eurostar’s Temple Mills depot in east London for train storage and maintenance.
Sir Richard Branson previously said it was “time to end this 30-year monopoly and bring some Virgin magic to the cross-Channel route.”
Virgin intends to operate services between London St Pancras and the same stations served by Eurostar in Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.
The ORR emphasised that while the decision is significant, further steps remain before operations can begin.
Virgin Trains must still secure access to other rail networks along the route and obtain safety approvals from both UK and EU regulators.
The proposed services would run on High Speed 1, the line that runs between London and the tunnel.
Temple Mills is the only depot that can be accessed from High Speed 1.