Virgin takes step towards running Channel Tunnel rail services
Virgin has been granted track access by the ORR to run international rail services between London, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam starting in 2030.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Virgin granted track access for Channel Tunnel routes by the ORR
- Plans cover daily return services between London, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam
- Agreement spans from October 1, 2030, to December 31, 2040
- Company plans to acquire 12 high-speed trains from Alstom
Virgin's plans to operate rail services connecting London with Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam have progressed significantly after receiving track access approval from the UK regulator. The company has secured authorization to run up to 20 daily return services through the Channel Tunnel, with the agreement set to run from October 1, 2030, through December 31, 2040.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) described the decision as a significant step forward in introducing market competition on a route where Eurostar has maintained a passenger service monopoly since the tunnel opened in 1994. However, the regulator noted that Virgin still needs to secure rolling stock and obtain safety approvals from both UK and European Union authorities before operations can commence.
The regulatory approval currently covers tracks stretching from London St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel at Dover, with the ORR pointing out that Virgin must also secure access to mainland European rail networks. Martin Jones, the ORR's deputy director of access and international, commented on the development:
"This is an important next step in bringing competition and growth to the market for international rail services."
Martin Jones, ORR Deputy Director of Access and International
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
To facilitate the new routes, Virgin is planning to purchase 12 high-speed trains manufactured by Alstom. Last year, the international expansion plans received a major boost when the ORR approved an application allowing Virgin to share the Temple Mills railway depot in east London with Eurostar. The facility remains the sole UK storage yard capable of accommodating the larger continental European train sets while maintaining a direct connection to the cross-Channel line.
The entry of new operators like Virgin and Trenitalia France into the cross-Channel rail corridor marks a pivotal shift away from decades of single-operator dominance. Increased market competition is expected to drive better service standards, encourage infrastructural investments, and provide passengers with broader travel choices, reshaping the landscape of international rail transit between the UK and mainland Europe.
Competition along the corridor is intensifying as Italy's FS Italiane Group through its subsidiary Trenitalia France also prepares to launch services through the tunnel by 2029. Trenitalia France recently signed an agreement for 19 new high-speed trains from Hitachi Rail. Meanwhile, a Virgin Group spokesperson emphasized that development for the new London-Europe service is moving swiftly alongside ongoing investments into the broader fleet and passenger growth targets.
Source: BBC Business
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