Virgin Trains has taken a significant step towards launching services between London and European cities, following track access approval from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The company has been granted permission to use tracks at London St Pancras and High Speed 1, the line connecting the station to the Channel Tunnel.
This agreement is set to commence on 1 October 2030 and will run until 31 December 2040. Virgin Trains plans to operate up to 20 daily return journeys through the Channel Tunnel, aiming to serve Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.
The ORR noted that while this is an important step, further work is required before services can begin. Virgin Trains must secure access to other rail networks and obtain safety approvals from the ORR and relevant EU regulators.
This development follows an earlier approval last October for Virgin Trains to share Eurostar’s Temple Mills depot for fleet maintenance and storage. Eurostar has held an exclusive monopoly on passenger rail travel through the Channel Tunnel since 1994.