Virgin Trains has moved a significant step closer to launching international passenger services from London after the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) pre-approved a track access agreement allowing up to 20 daily return services to continental Europe.
The rail regulator decided on 13 August to pre-approve a new framework track access agreement between HS1 Limited, trading as London St. Pancras Highspeed, and VTE OPCO Limited, Virgin Trains.
Under the agreement, Virgin would be able to operate up to 20 return services each day between London and Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam.
Access would run from 1 October 2030 until 31 December 2040, providing the long-term framework needed for Virgin to progress its plans to enter a market currently dominated by Eurostar.
Virgin Trains and London St Pancras High Speed can now formally enter into the agreement by 4 September 2026.
ORR described the decision as an important step towards introducing greater competition in international rail, with the potential to support economic growth and provide passengers with greater choice on journeys between Britain and continental Europe.
Martin Jones, ORR Deputy Director, Access & International, said: “This is an important next step in bringing competition and growth to the market for international rail services, and we welcome the progress Virgin Trains and London St Pancras High Speed have made. While there is still more work to do, we are supporting Virgin and the wider industry to grow international services.”
Significant hurdles remain before 2030 launch
The track access decision does not mean Virgin’s services are guaranteed to begin in 2030, with several substantial commercial, operational and regulatory hurdles still to clear.
Virgin must procure a suitable fleet of trains capable of operating across the different infrastructure and signalling systems used in Britain and continental Europe.
The company will also need to secure access rights on the relevant European rail networks and obtain the necessary safety approvals from ORR and regulatory authorities within the EU.
Nevertheless, securing long-term access to HS1 represents an important piece of the puzzle and provides greater certainty as Virgin develops its proposition.
The potential arrival of another operator would represent one of the biggest changes to the cross-Channel passenger rail market since international services through the Channel Tunnel began.
Eurostar currently operates direct services from London to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and other destinations, but growing demand for international rail has attracted increasing interest from prospective competitors.
The ORR decision also comes as significant investment is being proposed across the international rail market, including Eurostar’s plans to invest £1.7 billion in its new Celestia fleet and expand its network with direct services to Frankfurt and Geneva.
Competition could therefore coincide with a wider expansion of international rail capacity during the next decade, potentially increasing the number of destinations and services available from London.
For the UK rail supply chain, the development could also create opportunities around rolling stock, maintenance, depot facilities, technology and supporting infrastructure as prospective operators establish the capabilities required to compete in the cross-Channel market.
Virgin’s proposed operation remains several years away, but the ORR decision gives the company a defined pathway onto Britain’s high-speed infrastructure and brings the prospect of direct competition on international services another important step closer.
