The government's Office of Road and Rail (ORR) has given Virgin Trains permission to operate up to 20 daily return services between London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from 1 October 2030 to 31 December 2040.
However, the timings remain subject to Virgin Trains acquiring the necessary rolling stock – trains – to operate the routes, access to other rail networks, and UK and EU safety approvals. The arrangement would see it share a depot with Eurostar.
It has until 4 September to enter into an agreement with London St Pancras High Speed, the outfit that operates the high speed lines out of London.
