Virgin Trains cleared to run London to Paris services
Key Points
- ORR has pre-approved a framework track access agreement between London St Pancras Highspeed and Virgin Trains.
- The deal allows up to 20 daily return services from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
- It runs from 1 October 2030 to 31 December 2040, with services planned to start in 2030.
- Virgin Trains still needs rolling stock, network access abroad and safety approvals in the UK and EU.
- The decision follows ORR's October 2025 approval of Virgin's access to the Temple Mills depot.
The Office of Rail and Road has pre-approved a track access agreement allowing Virgin Trains to run up to 20 daily return services between London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from October 2030.
The regulator confirmed on Monday (17 August) that this covers a new framework agreement between HS1 Limited, which trades as London St Pancras Highspeed, and VTE OPCO Limited, the Virgin Trains entity behind the plan.
The agreement runs from 1 October 2030 to 31 December 2040. Virgin Trains and London St Pancras Highspeed have until 4 September 2026 to enter into it.
Eurostar has operated cross-Channel passenger services from St Pancras without a direct competitor since services began in 1994.
ORR described the decision as a significant step in bringing competition to the market for international rail services, and said it supports economic growth and delivers benefits for passengers travelling between London and continental Europe.
“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,” said Martin Jones, Deputy Director for Access and International at ORR.
“While there is still more work to do, we are supporting Virgin and the wider industry to grow international services.”
What still has to happen
Virgin Trains must procure rolling stock, secure access to the rail networks it needs beyond the UK, and obtain safety approvals from ORR and the relevant authorities in the European Union before it can carry passengers.
The operator plans to begin running services in 2030.
The approval follows ORR’s October 2025 decision to grant Virgin Trains access to the Temple Mills International depot in east London, the only UK facility able to service the type of trains used on cross-Channel routes.
Virgin and other prospective operators treated depot access as the critical barrier to entering the market. ORR has since supported Virgin Trains and Eurostar in reaching a contractual agreement on depot access.
