Top Stories· August 17, 2026 at 10:26 a.m.
Virgin Trains Clears Major Hurdle Towards Challenging Eurostar's Monopoly
Key takeaways
- Virgin Trains has received approval for services on High Speed 1
- Approval period is between October 2030 and December 2040
- Virgin Trains still needs permission to run through the Channel Tunnel
Virgin Trains has received approval from the UK-based Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to operate services on High Speed 1, a line connecting London to the Channel Tunnel in Kent. This move marks a significant step towards challenging Eurostar's three-decade monopoly on passenger services through the tunnel. The approval period runs from October 2030 to December 2040. However, Virgin Trains still needs to secure permission to run its trains through the Channel Tunnel and obtain safety approvals from both ORR and EU regulators.
