Virgin Trains has moved closer to challenging Eurostar’s dominance of cross-Channel rail travel after securing regulatory approval for up to 20 daily return services between London and continental Europe from 2030.
The Office of Rail and Road has granted Sir Richard Branson’s company track access for services linking London St Pancras with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. The agreement runs from October 2030 until the end of 2040.
The decision represents a significant step towards ending Eurostar’s three-decade grip on passenger services through the Channel Tunnel, although Virgin still faces several regulatory and operational hurdles before trains can begin carrying passengers.
The company has already secured access to Eurostar’s Temple Mills depot in east London, allowing it to maintain and store trains. The facility is particularly important because Temple Mills is the only depot connected directly to High Speed 1, the railway linking St Pancras with the Channel Tunnel.
Branson has previously described the project as an opportunity to “end this 30-year monopoly and bring some Virgin magic to the cross-Channel route”.
The planned services would compete directly with Eurostar on its established routes, potentially giving passengers more choice while increasing pressure on the incumbent operator over fares, frequencies and service quality.
Martin Jones, deputy director of access and international at the ORR, said the decision was an “important next step” towards greater competition and growth in international rail.
But the approval is not a final green light. Virgin must still secure access to other national rail networks and obtain safety authorisations from British and European regulators before the planned 2030 launch.
The long lead time reflects the complexity of running trains across multiple jurisdictions and through the Channel Tunnel, where stringent technical and security requirements apply.
For Branson, however, the regulatory decision brings his long-running challenge to Eurostar one step closer to reality.
After 30 years of monopoly, the Channel Tunnel is finally preparing for a fight.
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