Richard Branson’s Virgin Trains gets green light for up to 20 daily Channel services

Rail regulator clears crucial track access deal that could see Virgin challenge Eurostar with trains from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from 2030

Virgin Trains has today moved a major step closer to challenging Eurostar after regulators backed plans for up to 20 new daily return services between London and continental Europe.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has pre-approved a track access agreement allowing Virgin to run trains from London St Pancras to Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam from October 2030.

The agreement would cover services until the end of 2040 and represents one of the most significant steps yet towards introducing competition on cross-Channel passenger rail routes.

Virgin Trains and London St Pancras High Speed, which manages the HS1 rail link, can now formally enter into the agreement by September 4.

Virgin must still buy its rolling stock, secure access to rail networks outside Britain and obtain safety approvals from the ORR and regulators in the European Union.

But the ruling, published by the ORR today, removes another important hurdle for the company as it works towards launching international passenger services in 2030.

Virgin plans to operate up to 20 return journeys a day from St Pancras, with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam among the destinations covered by the agreement.

The move would bring direct competition to Eurostar, which currently dominates international passenger rail services through the Channel Tunnel.

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.”

The latest decision follows the regulator’s approval last October of Virgin’s application for access to the Temple Mills International depot in east London.

Access to the depot had been regarded by Virgin and other prospective operators as crucial to plans for competing international services.

The ORR has since been working with Virgin and Eurostar as they seek to reach a contractual agreement over use of the depot.

If the remaining approvals are secured, Virgin plans to begin carrying passengers between London and continental Europe in 2030.

READ MORE: Uber plots Channel Tunnel disruption with app-bookable high-speed trains. A partnership with Gemini Rail could see Uber trains running from Stratford and Ebbsfleet to Paris, Brussels and Lille within four years, opening app-based booking to international rail for the first time.

Do you have news to share or expertise to contribute? The European welcomes insights from business leaders and sector specialists. Get in touch with our editorial team to find out more.

_{Main image: An artist’s impression of a Virgin-branded high-speed train on the HS1 route, as the company moves closer to launching services from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from 2030. Image: The European/ORR}