Virgin Trains granted track access for international services by ORR

[Warrior2852]

The ORR has put out a press release announcing that they have given Virgin track access for up to 20 international return services a day from 1st October 2030 to 31st December 2040.

Green light for Virgin Trains international services | Office of Rail and Road

www.orr.gov.uk

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the rail regulator, has today announced that on 13 August it decided to pre-approve a new framework track access agreement between HS1 Limited (trading as London St. Pancras Highspeed) and VTE OPCO Limited (Virgin Trains). The agreement will allow Virgin Trains to operate up to 20 new daily return services between London and Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam from 1 October 2030 to 31 December 2040.

The agreement is a significant step forward in bringing competition to the market for international rail services, supporting economic growth and providing significant benefits for passengers travelling between London and continental Europe.

Virgin Trains and London St Pancras High Speed may now enter into the agreement by 4 September 2026.

There are a number of steps before the new services will be able to run. Virgin Trains must also procure rolling stock, secure access to other rail networks, and obtain safety approvals from ORR and the relevant authorities in the EU. Virgin Trains plans to begin running services in 2030.

Martin Jones, deputy director, access & international, said:

“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. While there is still more work to do, we are supporting Virgin and the wider industry to grow international services.”

 

[speedy1]

Fantastic news!

 

[zwk500]

Has Virgin or anybody else publicly stated whether they have/are close to securing access to LGV Nord?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

They still need to get access approval from the Eurotunnel and continental regulators.
With Trenitalia France bidding for access too, along with incumbent Eurostar, this might not be straightforward, especially for slots at Paris Gare du Nord.
If cross-channel capacity is trebled with these applications, can the market bear it and make it pay (ie no subsidy)?
Presumably the trains themselves will be able to run on other high speed routes, and be both TVM and ETCS compatible.

 

[LLivery]

The decision letter is interesting.

A feeling Virgin have been favoured, particularly here (page 3):

11. A number of consultees objected to the proposal. The key concerns raised in the consultation were

a) Fairness and transparency of LSPH’s processes. This concern underpins many of the objections raised by EIL, TF and Gemini, all of whom assert that VTE was effectively afforded a privileged opportunity to secure long-term rights before other operators had a realistic chance to compete for the same capacity. The assertions focus on the absence of a clear process by LSPH for allocating capacity beyond 2030, the lack of a simultaneous bidding opportunity for competing operators, limited publication of decision-making criteria, inconsistent treatment of VTE compared with EIL’s earlier requests, and a failure to consider the aspirations of other operators seeking market entry.

b) Effective reservation of capacity prior to ORR approval. A distinct issue emerging from the further consultation process is whether the submission of the VTE Form P has been treated as creating an effective reservation of capacity before ORR has approved the FTAA.

c) Long-term reservation of capacity and the impact on competition. EIL, Gemini, SNCF Réseau and others questioned whether it is appropriate to grant VTE rights extending past 2030 at a time when EIL is expected to expand and several operators are seeking entry into the market.

d) Intention and ability to use. Some consultees questioned whether VTE has sufficiently demonstrated its intention and ability to use the rights it is seeking. Several consultees question whether VTE is sufficiently advanced in its preparations to justify the granting of firm rights.

I do wonder if there's going to be a legal battle here...

Edit: Oops accidentally posted before ready:
It has been addressed in the letter part of it here (pg 5):

17. As part of our review, we carefully considered all matters raised in the industry consultation. We also met separately with EIL and FS Group at their request as part of the process in order to further understand their concerns. In particular we considered:

a) Fairness and transparency of LSPH’s processes LSPH has confirmed that other prospective operators were invited into the operational integrity process and we have also asked LSPH to explain the alleged different treatment of EIL. LSPH's subsequent explanation is that EIL's October 2025 request was regarded as largely a rollover of existing rights with only a modest increase in services, whereas prospective new entrants were seeking material new capacity and were therefore invited into an operational integrity assessment process. LSPH's position is that, had EIL sought capacity on a comparable scale, it would have been subject to the same process. We view that the distinction drawn between EIL (as an existing operator who had requested only a modest increase in capacity) and the prospective operators (who were proposing a large number of new services) was objectively justified, consistently applied and sufficiently evidenced.

b) Effective reservation of capacity prior to ORR approval LSPH has indicated that pending approval the capacity associated with the application should effectively be treated as occupied for planning purposes. However, it accepts that the draft FTAA has no legal effect unless and until approved by ORR. Pursuant to Regulation 21(15) of the 2016 Regulations, ORR's role is to decide whether to approve the agreed FTAA submitted by LSPH and VTE. We have been made aware that other operators are in discussions with LSPH about future access rights. We note that there are currently no competing applications before ORR for our consideration. The scope of ORR’s decision is limited to approving (or not) the agreed application that has been submitted to us, not to arbitrating between potential competing or disputed applications. As such, ORR does not consider it would be appropriate to defer determination of this agreed application solely because discussions concerning potential future access rights or capacity requests may be ongoing. That would not be consistent with a fair, transparent or predictable regulatory process.

One other thing I was wondering was the terms of lapsing. Kind of answered here:

The track access agreement includes a date by which the contract will lapse if the rolling stock is not procured.

But the date isn't published in the letter.

 

[U-Bahnfreund]

12. A full summary of the consultation has been published by LSPH on its website.

In the decision letter, there's this link to the LSPH page, but my PDF software can't manage to open it. Does anyone have the link?

 

[ainsworth74]

In the decision letter, there's this link to the LSPH page, but my PDF software can't manage to open it. Does anyone have the link?

It seems that the ORR may have managed to break that part of the letter. However I assume they were trying to point to this bit of the website:

Consultations - London St. Pancras Highspeed

Read more about ' Consultations ' from London St. Pancras Highspeed.

stpancras-highspeed.com

 

[Snow1964]

Guardian is reporting Virgin has revealed some details of its proposed fleet

Flash interiors, fancy food and maybe even a bar: Virgin has unveiled a mock-up of its future cross-Channel train, with a pledge to create “something genuinely new”.

The group is planning to launch rail services from London to the continent in 2030, with Eurostar facing competition for the first time since the opening of the Channel tunnel.

Virgin has ordered 12 trains from the manufacturer Alstom, and will hope to outshine Eurostar on design and customer experience as it fits them out.

While Virgin’s last stab at reimagining UK train travel may have peaked with the talking toilet seat on its intercity services in 2013, it has said the future trains will be inspired from its airline, cruise and hotel arms.

Although details are being kept firmly under wraps, it said it would draw on Virgin Atlantic’s airport lounges, or Clubhouses, for “pre-departure and onboard social spaces” with “more flexibility to work, relax or socialise in style”. Food will be influenced by its cruise line menu and the design by its Virgin Hotels brand.

Virgin unveils its future cross-Channel train as it gears up to take on Eurostar

Group plans to launch services from London in 2030 and hopes to outshine competitor with design inspiration from its airline, cruise and hotel arms

www.theguardian.com

 

[sh24]

Ah the usual Virgin PR that will translate into just some strange coloured mood lighting and the aforementioned talking toilet.

 

[Nym]

Well it's not like Alstom (Alsthom at the time) have been putting bars on trains for quite some time.

 

[KashmireHawker]

The Depot Access Agreement between Eurostar and Virgin dated 4th September has been published by the ORR.

This is very much on track to happen.

https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-10/2026-08-28-orr-directions-notice-appending-the-executed-daa-dated-4-september%202026.pdf

 

[BahrainLad]

I’m curious about the “Avelia Stream.” Is it basically the non tilting New Pendolino, the latest variant of which is operated by NTV in Italy as the ETR 675? Or will it be a further evolution?

 

[JonathanH]

Where are they expecting to be able to set up "pre-departure ... social spaces” with “more flexibility to work, relax or socialise in style”.

 

[Sorcerer]

I’m curious about the “Avelia Stream.” Is it basically the non tilting New Pendolino, the latest variant of which is operated by NTV in Italy as the ETR 675? Or will it be a further evolution?

I think that it will be at least partly derived from the New Pendolino/ETR 675 model but with more AGV-style motors capable of 300km/h at a minimum. The Avelia Stream was pretty much a merging of those technologies, and both were built under Alstom Italy in the Savigliano plants (well, 17 of the 25 AGVs were actually built in La Rochelle, so it's part-French built in that respect).

 

[BahrainLad]

Where are they expecting to be able to set up "pre-departure ... social spaces” with “more flexibility to work, relax or socialise in style”.

The article in RAIL indicates this will be enabled by the £100m expansion of St Pancras:

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses will also be installed at St Pancras. This will be made possible by a planned £100 million redesign of the departures area which London St Pancras Highspeed (LSPH) hopes will end the “holding pen” experience and increase capacity, with wait times cut to as little as 15 minutes.

LSPH wants work before Virgin starts in late 2030.

Speaking to the Financial Times in August, Chief Executive Robert Sinclair said: “Our working assumption want their own lounge and branding,” though a “common use area” for all passengers will remain.

 

[mad_rich]

Where are they expecting to be able to set up "pre-departure ... social spaces” with “more flexibility to work, relax or socialise in style”.

Translation: A chair with a mini table and socket built-in, with a QR code for the drinks menu.

 

[TheWierdOne]

Ah the usual Virgin PR that will translate into just some strange coloured mood lighting and the aforementioned talking toilet.

Ahem, a multibilingual talking toilet thank you very much.

 

[Failed Unit]

I look forward to seeing the product, Eurostar are just cutting everything back so they need a competitor. As others have said it will be interesting to see how the overcome the other problems. Space at St Pancras and the scanning, just like at airports can’t be influenced by the operator. The rather sad offering Eurostar give in Standard plus and Business Premier can of course.

 

[Sorcerer]

I look forward to seeing the product, Eurostar are just cutting everything back so they need a competitor. As others have said it will be interesting to see how the overcome the other problems. Space at St Pancras and the scanning, just like at airports can’t be influenced by the operator. The rather sad offering Eurostar give in Standard plus and Business Premier can of course.

Based on my recent experience (and I must be clear my only experience is this and 2010), getting through St Pancras was quite quick and nowhere near the hassle of an airport. It was mostly scanning the ticket, getting through security, and passport checks. I think this combined with potentially reducing the wait times and somehow increasing the available waiting space would go a long way. If capacity can be increased to 5,000 passengers every hour, you could have about five fully-loaded e320s worth of people getting through at any one time.

 

[sh24]

The lengthy summer time queues are as bad (if not worse) than anything I've seen at any of the London airports. It's a really poor experience.

 

[williamn]

I think it varies a lot. I use Eurostar 4-5 times a year and my typical experience is that I’m through in 15 minutes in St. Pancras. My worst experience was a 60+ min check in in Brussels.

 

[Sorcerer]

I think it varies a lot. I use Eurostar 4-5 times a year and my typical experience is that I’m through in 15 minutes in St. Pancras. My worst experience was a 60+ min check in in Brussels.

Gare du Nord was quite annoying in that respect. Passing through multiple passport scans before even reaching security. The waiting area is larger at least but the queue for people waiting to board even before the gates opened was horrendous. I genuinely wonder how much would need to be streamlined to make it work for both Virgin and Eurostar to run, never mind Trenitalia possibly being thrown into the mix.

 

[Failed Unit]

I do find Gare Du Nord worse in all respects. We should also remember it used to work fine, with more trains. The Scanning is really bad in Paris, very airline now as they make you take electrical equipment out your bag as well

 

[Crithylum]

I do find Gare Du Nord worse in all respects. We should also remember it used to work fine, with more trains. The Scanning is really bad in Paris, very airline now as they make you take electrical equipment out your bag as well

A large proportion of airports now don’t require electronics to be removed from bags.

 

[danshrimp]

The waiting area is larger at least but the queue for people waiting to board even before the gates opened was horrendous.

An entirely self-inflicted problem. Every time I've been without fail there's an absurdly long queue of people 45 mins or even an hour before departure, while the upstairs seating area at the end remains mostly empty. When they announce boarding you come down the steps and merge into the front of the queue anyway.

But of course, create an airport-like atmosphere and you get airport-like behaviour.

 

[AdamWW]

An entirely self-inflicted problem. Every time I've been without fail there's an absurdly long queue of people 45 mins or even an hour before departure, while the upstairs seating area at the end remains mostly empty. When they announce boarding you come down the steps and merge into the front of the queue anyway.

But of course, create an airport-like atmosphere and you get airport-like behaviour.

Yes - in Brussels yesterday I got through passport control to find a huge queue winding its way through the duty free shop and into the lounge. But once boarding started, it moved so quickly with people merging in that the whole thing was pretty pointless.

I presume people are used to how slowly a plane boards rather than a train with lots of doors.

 

[popeter45]

so any clue if Virgin or Eurostar will accept the passengers of the other during disruptions?
at the moment its simple to put people on the next Eurostar if delayed (e.g. long security checks) but what happens of the next train is a Virgin train?

 

[Failed Unit]

A large proportion of airports now don’t require electronics to be removed from bags.

Absolutely, the vast majority of the ones in the UK that I used don’t. Hence why I was so surprised they insist in Paris now (it is a recent thing as well) It is really slowing things down as even regular travellers like myself don’t realise. We are putting phone in our laptop bags to make things easier just to need to take them all out again. It is also strange it is only Paris that needs you t do it. Amsterdam and London don’t

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 10:20 ==

so any clue if Virgin or Eurostar will accept the passenger of the other during disruptions?
at the moment its simple to put people on the next Eurostar if delayed (e.g. long security checks) but what happens of the next train is a Virgin train?

I doubt it. Eurostar Delays trains if it is down or security.

 

[AdamWW]

Absolutely, the vast majority of the ones in the UK that I used don’t. Hence why I was so surprised they insist in Paris now (it is a recent thing as well) It is really slowing things down as even regular travellers like myself don’t realise. We are putting phone in our laptop bags to make things easier just to need to take them all out again. It is also strange it is only Paris that needs you t do it. Amsterdam and London don’t

Or Brussels.

But they may have different equipment in Paris so it's possible there is a good reason for it.

I don't understand the logic behind making a change and then not letting people know beforehand, at least when they get into the queue.

Still, it's a good selling point for the airlines when their security is less hassle then getting the train.

And if it's like Brussels, the security queue could slow down an awful lot and it would make no difference overall due to the long delays that EES has introduced at the passport booths.

 

[Failed Unit]

Or Brussels.

But they may have different equipment in Paris so it's possible there is a good reason for it.

I don't understand the logic behind making a change and then not letting people know beforehand, at least when they get into the queue.

Still, it's a good selling point for the airlines when their security is less hassle then getting the train.

And if it's like Brussels, the security queue could slow down an awful lot and it would make no difference overall due to the long delays that EES has introduced at the passport booths.

I haven’t noticed that one yet on London - Paris. Gare-du-Nord has never being pleasant. The extra space is negated by the fact you need to take everything out again. Eurostar itself is constantly downgrading iteself, I see virgin are making a big deal about the food. However they won’t need to try hard to beat eurostar. The service itself wouldn’t take much improving such as wi-so that works, again easy win for Virgin. I tend not to have the meal as it is disappointing and prevents you working for about half the journey.

The only reason that I keep using Eurostar is the horror stories I hear about EES queues at Charle-de-Galle. I haven’t used Eurostar since August, they were not doing ESS properly at that point in time.

The new scanners at Paris are a massive step backward, be interesting where Virgin put the lounge. Also be interesting how the pricing is once competition appears, it is not cheap now for business.