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Mon, 17 Aug 2026

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 Virgin takes step towards running Channel Tunnel rail services

Firm wants to run up to 20 daily journeys to Europe but it must get additional approval for overseas tracks.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has granted Virgin track access through the Channel Tunnel, allowing them to run up to 20 daily return services between London and Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam from 1 October 2030. The approval marks a significant step forward in introducing competition on the route, where Eurostar has held a monopoly since 1994. However, Virgin still needs to secure rolling stock for the services and obtain safety approvals from UK and EU authorities. The ORR's deputy director of access and international, Martin Jones, said: "This is an important next step in bringing competition and growth to the market for international rail services."