The UK Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has approved Virgin Trains’ application to access the Temple Mills international depot in London — a landmark decision that opens up competition on Channel Tunnel services for the first time in 30 years.
This ruling unlocks a privately financed project worth around £700 million and is expected to create up to 400 jobs, paving the way for Virgin to launch new cross-Channel services by 2030. The approval is crucial, as Temple Mills is currently the only depot in Britain capable of light maintenance for European-gauge rolling stock operating through the Channel Tunnel.
While the Virgin Trains brand is making a comeback, the operator itself is new. Incorporated in 2023 under the name VTE Holdings Limited, it is split evenly between Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and financial partners Equitix and Azzurra Capital.
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Virgin plans to begin with 20 daily round trips between London St Pancras and key cities such as Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, with future extensions to Germany and Switzerland under consideration.
Virgin Trains to deploy new Avelia Stream fleet
The company has signed an exclusive deal with Alstom to acquire 12 Avelia Stream high-speed units — the latest addition to the manufacturer’s portfolio. Although technical details remain under wraps, industry sources suggest this model is an evolution of the Pendolino platform, designed for speeds up to 300 km/h.
The trainsets will be single-deck and offer slightly lower capacity compared to Eurostar’s newly ordered fleet of 30 Avelia Horizon units, also built by Alstom.
Before operations can commence, Virgin must reach commercial agreements with Eurostar to share Temple Mills facilities, secure track access rights, obtain safety certification, and gain cross-border authorisations from both UK and EU regulators.
The ORR clarified that its decision only covers depot access and does not define which routes or destinations Virgin must operate. However, the company has indicated its interest in serving Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International should these stations reopen for international traffic.
Virgin’s entry marks a milestone in the liberalisation and revitalisation of international rail services through the Channel Tunnel. The move is expected to put downward pressure on fares, enhance service quality, and accelerate the shift from air to rail for short-haul travel — a boost to Europe’s decarbonisation goals.
Apart from Virgin Trains, British start-up Gemini — partnered with Uber and opting for Siemens’ Velaro Novo units — and the Evolyn-Trenitalia consortium also competed for a slot at Temple Mills. Following the ORR’s ruling, they will now need to develop their own dedicated maintenance depots.