Virgin has secured approval from the UK's Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to operate rail services through the Channel Tunnel, marking a fresh advance in its bid to challenge Eurostar's long-standing monopoly on the route. The regulator has authorised up to 20 daily return journeys between London and destinations including Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, with the agreement covering the period from 1 October 2030 to 31 December 2040.
The ORR described the decision as a notable milestone in opening up competition on cross-Channel passenger routes, which Eurostar has controlled exclusively since the tunnel's opening in 1994. Despite the approval, Virgin still faces several hurdles before any train can run, including sourcing rolling stock and obtaining safety clearances from both UK and EU regulatory bodies.
It is worth noting that the track access granted so far applies only to the stretch between London St Pancras and the tunnel entrance at Dover. Virgin has yet to finalise the necessary agreements to access rail infrastructure across mainland Europe, a separate and significant undertaking.
What did the regulator say about the decision?
The ORR's deputy director of access and international, Martin Jones, framed the approval as a meaningful advance for the sector.
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 regulator also indicated that a more competitive market on this corridor would deliver considerable advantages for travellers, though it stopped short of detailing specific benefits.
Who else is competing for a share of this route?
Virgin is not alone in eyeing the lucrative Channel Tunnel corridor. Italian rail operator FS Italiane Group, through its French subsidiary Trenitalia France, has also expressed ambitions to launch competing services.
Notably, when the ORR previously approved Virgin's access to a critical maintenance depot, it turned down rival applications from three other contenders — Evolyn, Gemini and Trenitalia — according to a national broadcaster's report. That depot decision is now seen as having helped clear the way for the latest track access milestone.
How has Virgin responded to the approval?
A spokesperson for Virgin Group welcomed the regulatory progress, framing it as evidence that the company's timeline remains on track.
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.
The company intends to acquire a fleet of high-speed trains from French manufacturer Alstom to run on the route. According to a separate report, this fleet specifically consists of 12 Alstom Avelia Stream trains.
Why does the Temple Mills depot matter?
Last year, Virgin's ambitions received a boost when the ORR cleared the company to share access to the Temple Mills railway depot in east London with Eurostar. This facility is significant because it is the only site in the UK equipped to service the larger trains used for continental European rail travel, and it already connects directly to the cross-Channel line.
According to the same report, Virgin's broader route ambitions may extend well beyond the initial London-Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam network, with the possibility of eventually reaching further into France, Germany and Switzerland.
What happens next?
Before any commercial service can begin, Virgin must still secure network access across mainland Europe alongside commercial and safety sign-offs from regulators in both the UK and the EU. The company's stated target for launching passenger services remains 2030, positioning this latest approval as an early but far from final step in a lengthy regulatory process.
