For the first time since the opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994, Eurostar might be losing its monopoly on operating high-speed passenger trains through the tunnel. According to Virgin Group, “there are no more major hurdles to overcome” for the company to rival Eurostar with a new train service.
In February 2025, London St Pancras Highspeed and Channel Tunnel operator Getlink signed an expansion agreement. The plan is to carry almost 5,000 international passengers per hour through London St Pancras and the tunnel in order to transform sustainable and efficient international travel between the UK and Europe.
Soon after, British billionaire Richard Branson from Virgin Group announced the company was looking to raise £700 million (£300 million in equity and £400 million in debt) to fund a new cross-Channel service that would be able to compete with Eurostar. It wouldn’t be the company’s first venture into rail, as it already operated trains in the UK between 1997 and 2019.
“The cross-channel route is ripe for change and would benefit from competition. While Virgin is not committing to launching a service just yet, we are seeking investment from like-minded partners to invest alongside Virgin, and we are delighted with the progress made so far,” a Virgin Group spokesperson said at the time.
Temple Mills International depot
Now, a new report by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) seems to have taken away the last hurdle for Virgin Group to rival Eurostar. According to the document, Eurostar’s Temple Mills maintenance depot could be used by other train operators. The depot is the only one in the UK to be able to accommodate the maintenance and storage of European-style trains and is therefore crucial for other operators wishing to compete.
“There is some available capacity at Temple Mills international (TMI) depot for more trains to be stabled, serviced and maintained”, the report states.
We have published the report which assessed the capacity at the maintenance and storage depot used by Eurostar.
— ORR (@railandroad) March 31, 2025
Our initial findings say the depot could accommodate more trains intended for services between St. Pancras and continental Europe.
▶️https://t.co/ajRsTFVezD pic.twitter.com/Xlh4Ajr0el
Moreover, the report found that the depot can accommodate 15 to 20 400-metre-long Eurostar trains. However, at present, Eurostar uses six to ten slots on average, with some extra for decommissioned trains. The extra space could thus be made available to other train companies without altering the depot’s operating processes. Additional capacity would require investment and some changes in those processes.
“Finally a green signal for competition. The Temple Mills depot is the only facility in the UK which can accommodate European-style trains and claims suggesting it was at capacity have been blocking Virgin from coming to the line. Virgin is therefore very pleased with the outcome and we thank the ORR for commissioning this report, which will now unlock competition on the cross-Channel route for the benefit of all passengers.”
“There are no more major hurdles to overcome, and Virgin is ready to take up the challenge, given its award-winning experience in the train industry and track-record for building globally successful travel brands. We expect to be able to make an announcement very soon. Watch this space!” Virgin Group stated.
No official dates have been set yet, but according to a Financial Times report, a launch could be expected as soon as 2029.
Eurostar looks at the future
Meanwhile, Eurostar too has been working on new plans. In 2024 , the company already revealed plans to introduce up to 50 new trains and more international services in order to meet the huge demand for rail travel throughout Europe.
“Eurostar welcomes this independent study by the Office of Road and Rail. It confirms what Eurostar has said all along: the Temple Mills depot is effectively almost full today for major maintenance work and would require investment to meet the growing demands of international rail,” a Eurostar spokesperson said about the new report.
However, the current monopoly holder on train connections through the Channel Tunnel also stated that new operators should be willing to invest in the system if additional services are to bring economic growth, stronger connections, and a sustainable contribution.
