Gemini Trains plans to operate from London St Pancras and Kent’s Ebbsfleet station, which is currently not served by Eurostar.

Gemini is headed by Adrian Quine, an entrepreneur and former BBC World Service business journalist. He recently founded a bespoke daily tourist rail service on the Settle – Carlisle line.

Also part of the team is Lord Tony Berkeley, a civil engineer who spent 15 years developing and building the Channel Tunnel.

"Gemini Trains understands the growing demand for long-distance rail travel and recognises rail competition is expanding significantly in Europe," said the firm.

"Yet on the core Channel Tunnel route currently, there remains only one choice for customers. We believe there is a significant opportunity for a dynamic and innovative operator offering mixed ‘economy’ and ‘business’ seats at a competitive price to Eurostar."

Gemini has applied to use Eurostar’s maintenance facility and is the latest hopeful to emerge in the race to break the Eurostar monopoly.

In Iate 2023, Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson expressed interest in re-entering the rail market, four years after Virgin Trains ceased operating.
 
In addition, Spanish start-up Evolyn is looking to acquire up to 12 trains to enter the market.