Rail passengers between the United Kingdom and continental Europe could soon benefit from four or more trains an hour through the Channel Tunnel, as new operators enter the market to challenge Eurostar.
Eurostar has held a de facto monopoly on Channel Tunnel routes since its launch in 1994, but has been criticised for operating below capacity. With the recent approval granted to competitor Virgin for up to 20 return services a day between London St Pancras, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, the Channel Tunnel offer could look very different by 2030, when Virgin anticipates debuting its services.
The Eurotunnel between France and the UK is set to double it's daily routes, as Virgin trains and Trenitalia are set to launch services before 2030.
— NXT EU (@NXT4EU) August 26, 2026
The UK and Europe might finally start to be truly connected, running trains at 15 minute intervals, and prices should go down. pic.twitter.com/taIr31Dxij
Martin Jones, deputy director, access and international at the UK’s Office of Rail and Road (ORR), said Virgin’s successful acquisition of track access rights was “an important next step in bringing competition and growth to the market for international rail services.”
But as previously reported by Travel Tomorrow, other rivals are also waiting in the wings, meaning there could eventually be more than 50 trains per day taking passengers through the Channel Tunnel.
We've approved Virgin Trains' track access contract with London St Pancras High Speed.
— ORR (@railandroad) August 17, 2026
Virgin will be able to run up to 20 new daily services between London and Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam from 2030.
Next steps and more details ⬇️https://t.co/ExmsRDxVZP
Italian state rail operator Trenitalia is expecting to run 10 return services daily, having already invested €2 billion in the necessary new rolling stock from Hitachi, plus an €80 million depot under development south of Paris, where the firm will overnight its trains to avoid fierce competition for fleet storage at London’s Temple Mills facility.
In fact, Trenitalia is slated to beat Virgin to the starting line, with a 2029 launch date already being discussed. Train expert Mark Smith, aka The Man in Seat 61, told POLITICO: “Trenitalia are in pole position with a 2029 start date, helped by having ordered trains of a type already approved for France and a continuation of an existing production line.”
However, he also pointed out that both operators need more than the capacity and capital to make their plans a reality, given the regulatory hoops they will still need to jump through, including separate national authorisations in each country.
Gemini Trains, partnered with Uber, is another firm with its eye on Channel Tunnel routes, with a goal of running 11 daily services by 2030. Like Trenitalia, it faces the prospect of having to build its own fleet depot in Kent, in southeast England, after being refused stabling space in London.
If all these plans go ahead, 66 trains could be running through the Channel Tunnel, not to mention the 30% expansion Eurostar wants to achieve, with a new train order worth €2 billion due to be fulfilled by the early 2030s and plans for new destinations such as Frankfurt and Geneva. This comes on top of a new direct route to Antwerp launching in December 2026.
