Virgin has moved a step closer to launching rail services between London, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam after the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) granted the company track access for up to 20 daily return services through the Channel Tunnel, according to BBC News. The agreement runs from 1 October 2030 to 31 December 2040, marking the first regulatory approval for a competitor to Eurostar on the tunnel route since it opened in 1994.
ORR approval details
The ORR described the decision as "a significant step forward" in introducing competition on the route, where Eurostar has held a passenger monopoly since the tunnel opened in 1994, the BBC reported. The regulator said increasing competition would provide "significant benefits" for passengers. The approval covers track from London St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel at Dover, meaning Virgin still needs separate access agreements to run on high-speed lines in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
| Approval detail | Information |
|---|---|
| UK-side route | London St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel at Dover |
| Daily return services approved | Up to 20 |
| Agreement period | 1 October 2030 – 31 December 2040 |
| Planned rolling stock | 12 high-speed trains from Alstom |
What remains before launch
The ORR's deputy director of access and international, Martin Jones, said: "This is an important next step in bringing competition and growth to the market for international rail services. While there is still more work to do, we are supporting Virgin and the wider industry to grow international services."
Virgin still has to secure rolling stock for the services and get safety approval from UK and EU authorities, the BBC reported. It also needs access to rail networks in mainland Europe for the continental legs of the journey.
The competitive landscape
Virgin is not the only prospective challenger to Eurostar. Italy's FS Italiane Group is also looking to run services through the Channel Tunnel using its subsidiary Trenitalia France. Virgin's plans were previously boosted when the ORR approved its application to share the key Temple Mills railway storehouse in east London — the only depot in the UK able to accommodate the larger trains used in continental Europe and already linked to the cross-Channel line.
A Virgin Group spokesperson said: "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."
Eurostar, responding to the ORR's statement, said it confirmed "the huge potential for growth in international rail and the ambition across the industry to bring more passengers to Europe by train." The company added: "Eurostar will play a full part in that growth, and our focus remains on delivering our own ambitious plans, investing in our fleet and carrying 30 million passengers a year."
Watch list
- Virgin's procurement of 12 Alstom trains and the subsequent safety approval process with UK and EU authorities.
- Negotiations for continental European track access to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.
- FS Italiane Group's parallel application via Trenitalia France.
- Eurostar's response in terms of fleet investment and capacity as the 2030 launch approaches.
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