Virgin Trains will be able to launch rail services through the Channel Tunnel after the UK’s rail regulator approved its application to share a depot with Eurostar.The decision means Eurostar’s monopoly on passenger services is set to be broken for the first time since the tunnel opened in 1994.Temple Mills railway storehouse in east London is the only depot in the UK able to accommodate the larger trains used in continental Europe and which is already linked to the cross-Channel line.Martin Jones, deputy director of Access and International, said: “With this decision we are backing customer choice and competition in international rail, unlocking up to £700mn in private sector investment and stimulating growth.”While there is still some way to go before the first new services can run, we stand ready to work with Virgin Trains as their plans develop.”The decision comes after the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said the depot had enough space to either house an expanded Eurostar fleet or accommodate a rival company’s trains – but not both.Several firms had wanted to start operating services between London and mainland Europe, including Spanish start-up Evolyn, Richard Branson’s Virgin and a partnership between Gemini Trains and Uber.The ORR only approved Virgin’s application on Thursday and rejected applications from Evolyn, Gemini and Trenitalia.
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Virgin to challenge Eurostar as it wins bid to share train terminal
