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Richard Branson’s train company is a step closer to challenging Eurostar’s monopoly on transporting passengers across the Channel after the UK rail regulator approved Virgin Train’s application to use a key depot in east London.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) approved Virgin’s application to use the Temple Mills depot in Leyton – which is used for maintaining and storing trains. It said the move would unlock £700m of investment in new services and create 400 jobs.
Access to Temple Mills is a critical step in helping Virgin Trains challenge the monopoly held by Eurostar, which has been the only passenger service allowed to access the Channel tunnel since it opened in 1994. Temple Mills is the only train depot that can be accessed from High Speed 1, the line that runs between London and the tunnel.
It will give Virgin trains access to the light maintenance facilities it needs to run international services to the European mainland. While Virgin still needs to secure additional regulatory approvals covering issues such as track access and safety, it brings Branson one step closer to launching his plan to run services competing with Eurostar in 2030.
Branson said: “The ORR’s decision is the right one for consumers – it’s time to end this 30-year monopoly and bring some Virgin magic to the cross-Channel route.
“Virgin is no stranger to delivering award-winning rail services, and just as we have successfully challenged incumbents in air, cruise and rail, we’re ready to do it again. We’re going to shake up the cross-Channel route for good and give consumers the choice they deserve.”
The ORR’s decision comes only months after it rejected a separate application to return Virgin trains to the UK’s west coast mainline, amid concerns over delays and cancelled journeys. Virgin Group has not operated trains in the UK since its contract for the west coast mainline expired in December 2019.
Commenting on the Temple Mills approval, Martin Jones, ORR’s deputy director of access and international, said: “With this decision we are backing customer choice and competition in international rail, unlocking up to £700m 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.”
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Earlier this month Eurostar announced it would start running doubledecker trains through the Channel tunnel to meet growing demand for international rail travel from the UK.
