Virgin Group has been cleared to press ahead with plans to launch a rival international rail service through the Channel Tunnel, in a landmark decision that will bring competition to the cross-Channel route for the first time in three decades.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has approved Virgin’s use of the Temple Mills International depot in East London — a crucial operational base for cross-Channel trains — removing the final regulatory obstacle to entry. The decision paves the way for Virgin to begin operating services from London St Pancras International to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam by 2030, with further European destinations planned for later expansion.
Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, hailed the move as “the right decision for consumers,” adding: “It’s time to end this 30-year monopoly and bring some Virgin magic to the cross-Channel route. We’ve done it before in air, cruise and rail — and we’re ready to do it again.”
Virgin has confirmed that Equitix and Azzurra Capital will join as investment partners in the venture, which aims to challenge Eurostar’s dominance with a new generation of faster, greener trains and more competitive fares. Equitix, one of Europe’s leading infrastructure investors, will fund the rolling stock, while Virgin Group will lead the operating company alongside Equitix and Azzurra Capital, the private equity firm co-founded by Stefano Marsaglia and Jorge Delclaux.
Josh Bayliss, Virgin Group’s chief executive, said the consortium represented “a fantastic opportunity to bring greater value and service to customers not just in the UK and France, but across the wider European network too.” He added that the partners shared Virgin’s ambition to “disrupt and challenge the status quo” in international rail.
The company has already agreed an exclusive deal with French train manufacturer Alstom to supply 12 Avelia Stream trains, the same model used for Italy’s high-speed Frecciarossa service. The trains, capable of operating seamlessly across multiple European rail systems, will form the backbone of Virgin’s new fleet. Alstom Europe president Andrew DeLeone said the collaboration “reinforces our shared commitment to sustainability, customer experience and technological excellence,” adding that Virgin and Alstom “have a history of driving innovation and change in the rail industry.”
Leading the project for Virgin is Phil Whittingham, former managing director of Virgin Trains, who spent more than 25 years in the industry. He described the ORR’s approval as a “significant milestone and a pivotal turning point for international rail,” saying the new service would create hundreds of jobs and help shift short-haul journeys from air to rail.
Virgin’s decision to partner with Alstom rekindles a longstanding relationship that dates back to its Pendolino trains on the UK’s West Coast Main Line. The new Avelia fleet builds on that legacy, offering improved speed, energy efficiency and passenger comfort.
Under its initial route plan, Virgin intends to connect London with Paris Gare du Nord, Brussels-Midi and Amsterdam Centraal, before expanding further into France, Germany and Switzerland. The company has also committed to stopping at Ebbsfleet International or Ashford International in Kent if either station reopens, and is in talks with Kent County Council to explore options for reviving cross-Channel connectivity from the region.
With depot access now secured and its funding structure in place, Virgin is preparing to finalise its access agreement and conclude the procurement and financing of its fleet. The group said it remains on track to begin services by the end of the decade, promising passengers a new era of competition and choice on the Channel Tunnel route.