Passengers may be able to travel to France from east London if Virgin Trains adds Stratford International as a stop on its new cross-Channel service. A spokesperson for the Virgin Group stated the company is "looking forward to exploring additional stops, including Stratford International."
Virgin Trains, which is reviving its service as a rival to Eurostar, received approval from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) in August to operate a cross-Channel rail service. The company's initial plans involve running 20 daily return journeys between London St Pancras and stations in Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.
The idea of stopping at Stratford International was first mentioned in Virgin's original submission to the ORR in July 2025. East Ham MP Sir Stephen Timms has called for potential Eurostar competitors to stop at Stratford, citing a "fast-growing commercial opportunity." Stratford International currently serves Southeastern's domestic high-speed service and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), but has not yet hosted international train services.