Virgin Trains has received regulatory pre-approval to operate international rail services from London St Pancras to Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris.
The Office of Rail and Road approved a track access agreement between Virgin and HS1 Ltd, the operator of the high-speed line leading to the Channel Tunnel.
Under the proposed deal, Virgin could run up to 20 daily return services between London and the three European cities starting from October 2030 until the end of 2040.
Next Steps Before Launch
Virgin Trains and HS1 Ltd have until September 4, 2026, to formally sign the agreement.
The company previously secured access to the Temple Mills depot in east London, which connects directly to the High Speed 1 line.
Before services can launch, Virgin must acquire trains, secure rail network access on the European side, and pass safety approvals from UK and EU regulators.
