UK: Virgin Trains has secured pre-approval for up to 20 daily return services on High Speed 1, advancing its plan to challenge Eurostar’s long-standing monopoly on Channel Tunnel passenger services from October 2030.

Conceptual rendering of a Virgin Trains high-speed service at London St Pancras
A conceptual rendering of a Virgin Trains high-speed train at London St Pancras. Illustrative image. Image: PA.

The Office of Rail and Road has pre-approved a framework track access agreement between Virgin Trains and London St Pancras Highspeed, allowing up to 20 daily return services between London and Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam from Oct. 1, 2030 through Dec. 31, 2040, according to the ORR’s own announcement. The parties may formally enter into the agreement by Sept. 4, 2026, while Virgin must still secure trains, Channel Tunnel and continental network access, and safety approvals in Britain and the European Union.

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Building on Temple Mills access won in 2025

This decision follows Virgin’s October 2025 regulatory approval to seek access to the Temple Mills International depot in east London, the only maintenance facility directly accessible from HS1. That earlier approval supported plans for up to £700 million in investment and beat out three rival bidders, including Italy’s Trenitalia, Spain’s Evolyn and start-up Gemini. “We welcome the progress Virgin Trains and London St Pancras High Speed have made,” said Martin Jones, ORR’s deputy director for access and international. Virgin has separately announced plans to purchase 12 Alstom Avelia Stream trainsets, with ambitions to expand further into Germany and Switzerland.

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The first deadline is Sept. 4, 2026, by which Virgin Trains and London St Pancras Highspeed may enter into the approved HS1 access agreement. Further milestones include a commercial depot agreement with Eurostar, procurement of rolling stock, access to the Channel Tunnel and continental networks, and safety approvals in Britain and the European Union. Eurostar, which has separately ordered new double-decker Alstom trainsets, has yet to say how it will respond competitively once Virgin’s 2030 launch date gets closer.

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