Virgin cleared for London–Channel line as Eurostar objection fails

Virgin’s approval covers only the line from St Pancras to the tunnel portal — the tunnel itself, the continental networks and the trains are still missing. Photo: Purple, Wikimedia Commons.

UK: The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has pre-approved a track access agreement giving Virgin Trains up to 20 daily return services on High Speed 1, the line from London St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel portal. The rights run from October 2030 to the end of 2040. The regulator rejected objections from Eurostar, Trenitalia, Gemini Trains and three continental infrastructure managers.

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