Virgin secures track access for international services from London St Pancras

Virgin Trains has moved closer to launching a new fleet of international high-speed services from London St Pancras after receiving regulatory approval to access the HS1 network.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) announced that it had pre-approved a framework track access agreement between HS1 Limited, trading as London St Pancras Highspeed, and VTE OPCO Limited, Virgin Trains. The proposed agreement would allow Virgin to operate up to 20 daily return services between London and Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam from 1 October 2030.

A new competitor for Eurostar

The approval represents a significant step in Virgin’s plans to enter the cross-Channel rail market and compete directly with Eurostar. Virgin’s proposed routes would connect London St Pancras with the same major European destinations currently served by Eurostar, potentially giving passengers more choice on international journeys.

The company’s plans are expected to increase competition on routes between the UK and mainland Europe, where Eurostar has historically been the dominant passenger operator through the Channel Tunnel.

Services planned from 2030

Under the framework agreement, Virgin could operate services between London and:

– Paris.
– Brussels.
– Amsterdam.

The track access agreement would cover the period from 1 October 2030 until 31 December 2040. Virgin Trains and London St Pancras Highspeed may now proceed with completing the agreement, subject to the remaining regulatory and operational requirements.

Earlier proposals indicated that Virgin could initially introduce six daily return services to Paris, with further expansion to Brussels and Amsterdam during 2031. The company has also discussed plans to operate a fleet of new high-speed trains designed for Channel Tunnel services.

More approvals still required

Although the ORR’s decision clears an important regulatory hurdle, Virgin’s international trains cannot begin operating immediately. The company must still secure access to other rail networks, procure suitable rolling stock and obtain safety approvals from UK and European regulators.

Virgin will also need to finalise the necessary arrangements for operating through the Channel Tunnel, including approvals involving the tunnel infrastructure and relevant international authorities. The ORR described the track access decision as an important next step, while noting that further work remains before services can begin.

Temple Mills access

Virgin’s plans received another boost in October 2025, when the ORR approved the company’s access to Eurostar’s Temple Mills International depot in east London. The depot is the only maintenance and storage facility accessible from High Speed 1, making it an important part of Virgin’s proposed operating model.

Access to Temple Mills is expected to provide Virgin with the facilities needed to maintain and prepare its international trains before they travel from London St Pancras through the Channel Tunnel.

Potential benefits for passengers

Virgin’s entry into the international rail market could create additional capacity and encourage greater competition on services to France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Passengers could benefit from more departure times, wider fare options and new service features as operators compete for customers.

The plans may also support the continued growth of international rail as an alternative to short-haul air travel. However, the final impact will depend on the number of trains Virgin secures, the fares it introduces and whether the company meets its target launch date.

For now, the ORR’s pre-approval places Virgin closer to its ambition of operating international services from London St Pancras in 2030. The next stage will involve completing the track access agreement and securing the trains, safety certifications and cross-border permissions required to launch the service.