Virgin takes step towards running Channel Tunnel rail services

Virgin's plans to run rail services between London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam have moved closer after it was granted track access by the UK regulator.

The company has been given approval to run up to 20 daily return services through the Channel Tunnel by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), with the agreement running from 1 October 2030 to 31 December 2040.

The ORR said, external it was "a significant step forward" in introducing competition on the route, where Eurostar has held a monopoly on passenger services since the tunnel opened in 1994.

However, the regulator said Virgin still had to secure rolling stock for the services and get safety approval from UK and EU authorities.

The approval from the ORR only covers the track from London St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel at Dover and the regulator said Virgin still needed to secure access to rail networks in mainland Europe.

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."

The ORR said increasing competition on the route would provide "significant benefits" for passengers.

As well as Virgin, Italy's FS Italiane Group is also looking to run services through the Channel Tunnel using its subsidiary Trenitalia France.

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."

Virgin is planning to buy 12 high-speed trains from Alstom to operate on the route.

Last year, Virgin's plans to launch international services received a boost after the ORR approved its application to share a key rail depot with Eurostar.

Temple Mills railway storehouse in east London is the only depot in the UK able to accommodate the larger trains used in continental Europe and which is already linked to the cross-Channel line.