Virgin Granted ORR Track Access for Rival Channel Tunnel Rail Services
Virgin has been granted track access by the Office of Rail and Road to operate rival international rail services through the Channel Tunnel. The major regulatory decision paves the way for competition against Eurostar, which has held a passenger service monopoly since 1994.
London has become the center of a major shift in international rail travel after the Office of Rail and Road, commonly known as the ORR, granted track access to Virgin. This regulatory milestone allows Virgin to run rival rail services through the Channel Tunnel, challenging the long-standing dominance of Eurostar, which has held a strict monopoly on passenger services through the tunnel since it first opened back in 1994.
The newly approved track access agreement permits Virgin to operate up to 20 daily return services between London and major European destinations including Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam. This extensive operating window is officially scheduled to run from 1 October 2030 through to 31 December 2040, marking a significant long-term commitment to expanding cross-border rail capacity and introducing fresh travel choices for millions of international passengers.
Addressing the regulatory decision, Martin Jones stated, "This is an important next step in bringing competition and growth to the market for international rail services." Jones further emphasized the ongoing regulatory support by noting, "While there is still more work to do, we are supporting Virgin and the wider industry to grow international services."
