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Ank Kumar
The UK Office of Rail and Road (ORR) dismissed Eurostar's claims that allowing permission would restrict Virgin's expansion initiatives.
Eurostar is the sole operator running passenger trains through the English Channel. Other firms could not establish this route due to their lack of access to the Temple Mills depot in east London, essential for maintaining trains on this line.
Eurostar previously held exclusive rights to the depot. In 2025, Virgin was given access to Temple Mills by ORR. The FT mentions that this generates rivalry in railway transportation between the continent and the island.
Virgin aims to dismantle Eurostar's monopoly and intends to initiate passenger services to the capitals of Belgium, France, and the Netherlands beginning in 2030. The objective is to initiate six daily services to Paris commencing in October 2030, expanding to 10 in April 2031 and 13 by October of that year. The firm intends to provide four daily routes to Brussels beginning in February 2031 and three to Amsterdam starting in October 2031.
Eurostar, operational since 1994 and owned by the French state-owned railway SNCF, expressed concerns to the regulator that Virgin's approval overlooks its intentions to grow services in the upcoming decade. The firm intends to invest €2 billion in new trains and has announced plans to introduce services to Geneva and Frankfurt.
source: ft.com
Eurostar is the sole operator running passenger trains through the English Channel. Other firms could not establish this route due to their lack of access to the Temple Mills depot in east London, essential for maintaining trains on this line.
Eurostar previously held exclusive rights to the depot. In 2025, Virgin was given access to Temple Mills by ORR. The FT mentions that this generates rivalry in railway transportation between the continent and the island.
Virgin aims to dismantle Eurostar's monopoly and intends to initiate passenger services to the capitals of Belgium, France, and the Netherlands beginning in 2030. The objective is to initiate six daily services to Paris commencing in October 2030, expanding to 10 in April 2031 and 13 by October of that year. The firm intends to provide four daily routes to Brussels beginning in February 2031 and three to Amsterdam starting in October 2031.
Eurostar, operational since 1994 and owned by the French state-owned railway SNCF, expressed concerns to the regulator that Virgin's approval overlooks its intentions to grow services in the upcoming decade. The firm intends to invest €2 billion in new trains and has announced plans to introduce services to Geneva and Frankfurt.
source: ft.com
