Virgin Trains has received approval from the Office of Rail and Road to utilize Eurostar’s east London train depot, marking a significant development in its plans to offer international services via the Channel Tunnel. This decision signals the end of Eurostar’s longstanding monopoly on Channel services dating back to 1994, as the ORR has granted access to Sir Richard Branson’s company for the maintenance and storage of trains at the Temple Mills site.
Although Virgin Group has not been actively operating trains in the UK following the expiration of its contract for the West Coast Main Line in December 2019, the ORR’s rejection of their application to run access services on that line has shifted their focus towards international operations. Martin Jones from the ORR emphasized that the decision supports customer choice and competition in international rail, potentially unlocking up to £700 million in private sector investment and driving growth. While there are further steps required before new services can commence, the ORR is prepared to collaborate with Virgin Trains as their plans progress.
Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, expressed his approval of the ORR’s decision, highlighting the benefits it brings to consumers by breaking the three-decade monopoly and introducing Virgin’s innovative approach to the cross-Channel route. Rail minister Lord Hendy echoed this sentiment, welcoming the decision as a means to enhance passenger options, increase value, and bolster connectivity for millions of travelers. Plans are also underway to explore establishing new depot capacity in the UK, supported by private investment, to facilitate competition and growth in the rail sector.
Despite the unused capacity of the Channel Tunnel, which currently operates at only around 50%, the ORR declined applications from other train operators such as Evolyn, Gemini Trains, and Trenitalia to utilize the Temple Mills depot. Eurostar’s bid to utilize the site’s spare capacity for expansion was also unsuccessful.