Virgin Trains has been granted track access by the rail regulator to operate new services between London and Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam starting in 2030. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) approved the company to run up to 20 new daily return services through the Channel Tunnel.
This move is a step forward in plans to break the passenger monopoly held by Eurostar on the cross-Channel route, which has been in place since 1994. The decision by Britain's roads and rail regulator opens the way for Eurostar's long-running dominance to be challenged.
While the company has received the high-speed rail access through the Channel Tunnel needed to launch a rival service, it must still obtain additional approval for the overseas tracks to complete its daily journeys to Europe.