Business · Companies · 2 days ago
Virgin plans London routes to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from 2030
Virgin has shown a mock-up of trains it plans to use for a new service between the UK and mainland Europe.
The company expects to start running trains from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam in 2030.
The trains will travel through the Channel tunnel and are planned to reach speeds of up to 300km/h.
Virgin has ordered 12 trains from Alstom and plans 20 daily return services, adding almost 7.5 million seats a year.
Eurostar currently operates cross-Channel rail services, so Virgin’s entry would give it competition on these routes.
Virgin says the trains will include spaces for passengers to work, relax or socialise, drawing on ideas from its airlines, hotels and cruise business.
The plan also includes up to 1,000 new jobs, and passengers will be able to earn Virgin loyalty points.
Virgin has secured access to a UK train depot until at least 2040, while Italy’s Trenitalia is also expected to launch cross-Channel services.
Virgin has unveiled a mock-up of trains planned for cross-Channel services from London from 2030.
The company plans 20 daily return services linking London with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
It has ordered 12 high-speed trains from Alstom, designed to reach up to 300km/h.
Virgin says the service could add almost 7.5 million seats a year and create up to 1,000 jobs.
The plans would introduce competition for Eurostar on cross-Channel rail services.
- Who
- Virgin plans to run the services, competing with Eurostar.
- What
- It plans 20 daily return cross-Channel rail services using 12 new trains.
- When
- The services are planned to launch in 2030.
- Where
- Between London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, via the Channel tunnel.
- Why
- Virgin says it aims to offer passengers a new travel choice and add capacity for more rail journeys between the UK and Europe.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Virgin has a proud history in UK rail. With our latest venture we are drawing on more than four decades of experience across travel and hospitality to create something genuinely new.
We’re confident that more journeys between the UK and Europe will be made by train. We’re adding capacity for millions more international rail journeys each year, growing the market as a whole.
The Office of Rail and Road published an agreement allowing Virgin to maintain its trains at Eurostar’s Temple Mills depot, with UK track access confirmed until at least 2040.
Virgin unveiled a mock-up of its planned cross-Channel train and its service plans.
Virgin plans to begin services between London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
- Daily services
- 20 return services planned
- Destinations
- Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from London
- Train order
- 12 high-speed trains from Alstom
- Top speed
- Up to 300km/h (190mph)
- Annual capacity
- Almost 7.5 million seats
- Jobs
- Up to 1,000 new jobs expected
Sources
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