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Metro
9 hours ago
- Business
- Metro
Virgin orders 12 new high-speed trains in biggest challenge to Eurostar yet
Virgin has cranked up its game in the race to end Eurostar's decades-long monopoly of Channel Tunnel rail services. Sir Richard Branson's company has signed a deal for 12 high-speed Avelia Stream trains with Alstom, the French train manufacturer. Virgin will use the rolling stock for journeys from the UK to mainland Europe by 2030, if it secures a sought-after deal to run services through the Channel Tunnel. The plan was revealed in the company's submission to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for permission to run services on HS1, the high-speed line from London St Pancras to Kent and on through the Tunnel. According to these documents, Virgin wants to launch routes in the next five years, with trains from London to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, with potential for additional destinations in Germany and Switzerland. If successful, this would put Branson's brand in direct competition with Eurostar. The submission, which suggests that Virgin is the only applicant that has secured funding and trains, is the first significant challenge to Eurostar's dominance of the Channel Tunnel since it began operating in 1994. Virgin first announced plans to take on Eurostar in January. Then in March, a spokesperson said there were 'no more major hurdles to overcome' in its bid to offer an alternative for travellers. This came after the ORR confirmed that Eurostar's Temple Mills maintenance depot could be used by other operators. The depot, where trains are maintained and stored, is crucial for other operators to compete. Alongside improving choice for passengers, Metro understands that Virgin's aim is to inject some joy into their journey across the Channel, which suggests the onboard experience itself will be a priority for the firm. In an effort to win over Eurostar customers, they'll also be sweetening the pot, with bookings connected to its Group-wide rewards programme, Virgin Red. But Branson's iconic brand is not the only one with ambitions. In April, a new potential rival emerged in the form of Italy's national state-owned railway company. Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Group) said it will launch a new high-speed rail service between London and Paris by 2029 that would compete with Eurostar. The group, which is a co-owner of Avanti West Coast, could extend the route to Marseilles, Lyon and Milan, and is also looking at a possible reopening of Ashford International in Kent. Eurostar stopped calling at the station March 2020 due to Covid. Gemini Trains has also confirmed plans to launch a fleet of 10 trains from the UK to Europe. Other players include London St Pancras High Speed (which recently rebranded from HS1) and Spanish start-up Evolyn. Fares on the rail link between the UK and France have soared since the pandemic, but all of this moving and shaking suggests passengers can soon look forward to a change in the game. More Trending 'Any competition is good competition, and a new player would obviously help to bring rail fares down,' Zoe Adjey, Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Tourism and Hospitality at the University of East London, previously told Metro. She says it's high time that the UK levels up its rail services, both at home and abroad. 'When you think back 30 years ago when we first got Eurostar at Waterloo, you should have been able to move to Manchester at the same speed – that never happened,' she notes. 'The rail industry hasn't done what they were supposed to be doing.' Virgin Group Gemini Trains Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Evolyn London St Pancras High Speed Uber Trains MORE: We swerved a beach honeymoon for a European city break — we're itching to go back MORE: I've been to 175 countries – but I always go back to these underrated gems MORE: I stumbled across the best bar ever in Europe's newly-crowned 'safest city'
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Virgin orders 12 new high-speed trains to rival Eurostar
Plus, Head of Travel Lisa Minot reveals why Virgin Trains would be good for UK customers Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VIRGIN has upped its game in the race to compete with Eurostar as it signs a deal for 12 new high-speed trains. The company hopes to add its services to Europe through the cross-Channel from 2030. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Win one of 8 incredible holidays to the Caribbean, Mexico and Greece by voting in The Sun's Travel Awards - enter to win here 4 Virgin has signed a deal for 12 trains in the hope of securing a Channel Tunnel deal Credit: Getty - Contributor 4 Many train companies are hoping to launch trains alongside Eurostar in Channel Tunnel Credit: Alamy A report revealed that Virgin has 'secured binding exclusivity' with Alstom for a dozen Avelia Stream trains. The company will use the trains for journeys into mainland Europe if Virgin secures a deal to use the Channel Tunnel. The revelation was found in Virgin's submission to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to be allowed to run services on HS1, the high-speed line from London St Pancras to the Kent coast and through the Channel tunnel. It states that Virgin wants to launch services in 2030 with trains from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. This will put it in direct competition with Eurostar, and Virgin added that it hopes to expand further across France, and into Germany and Switzerland in the future. Virgin also said that as a result of the deal with Alstom, it's currently the only applicant with both funding and trains secured for cross-Channel rail services. If it's approved, Virgin's services would be the first significant challenge to Eurostar's dominance of the Channel Tunnel since it began operating in 1994. Virgin first announced plans to take on Eurostar in January 2025. The race for the cross-Channel tunnel was further spurred on when a new report in March 2025 confirmed that the London Channel Tunnel depot at Temple Mills, where Eurostar stores its trains, has space for more storage. Top 5 Picturesque Train Journeys in Europe 4 Virgin first expressed its interest in launching trains to Europe earlier this year Credit: Alamy However, Virgin is not the only one with its eyes on the prize. Start-up Evolyn announced plans for trains between London and Paris back in 2023. The company revealed in 2023 that it hoped to launch a fleet of 12 Avelia trains in 2025. Gemini Trains also revealed plans to launch 10 trains from the UK to Europe, with routes to Paris and Brussels. The new train operator, which is currently being established, hopes to begin its rail journey by launching services from London to Paris and Brussels. Once services between London and Paris and Brussels have launched, Gemini hopes to expand to more European destinations. Alongside Gemini is Uber, who has said they will be branding the cross-Channel routes. This means that UK travellers will be able to book a train to Europe via the Uber app. Brits can already book trains using the Uber app but it will be a first for branded Uber trains to Europe. Plus, read more on Eurostar's plans to launch direct trains to two new European countries. And one travel writer discovered the perfect budget foreign holiday by train. Why Virgin taking on Eurostar is good for consumers The Sun's Head of Travel Lisa Minot explained how this is good news for UK travellers WHILE a second operator on the channel tunnel could only be a positive move for travellers, there are significant challenges before this could become reality. Eurostar currently has a monopoly on the route and competition would potentially bring more choice, lower prices and new routes. Eurostar itself is a shadow of the company it was in its glory days with direct routes to Disneyland Paris, Lyon, Avignon and Marseille plus its fabulous ski train to the Alps. While the pandemic brought the company almost to its knees, it has been steadily getting back on its feet and the merger with Belgian operator Thalys has opened up fast train services to Germany. But the constrictions on space at St Pancras and the maintenance depot at Temple Mills plus the potential disruption when the new European Entry Exit System finally arrives mean there are still significant problems that need to be addressed
