Virgin Trains Is Officially Launching Direct London–Europe Routes: Destinations, Launch Date and Everything to Know

Virgin Trains has secured UK approval to launch a high-speed service from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, challenging Eurostar's 30-year Channel Tunnel monopoly.

We all love the Eurostar — but what if there were more ways to reach Europe through the Channel Tunnel? After years of rumours, a new cross-Channel operator now looks set to become reality: the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has approved Virgin's plan to run a parallel service. Eurostar has been the only passenger operator on the route since it launched in 1994, so this is big news.

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This isn't the only recent update on Eurostar competitors. Last week it emerged that Italy's state-owned railway Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Group) had ordered 19 high-speed trains for the London–France route. Virgin will share the Temple Mills depot with Eurostar, while FS Group is sidestepping that by building an €80 million facility near Paris.

Here's what we know so far about Virgin's cross-Channel routes — from destinations and launch date to how much tickets might cost.

Where will the new Virgin Trains go?

The ORR's approval means Virgin can now plan direct trains from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, with up to 20 services a day in the pipeline.

Branson has also hinted at plans to expand "further across France, and into Germany and Switzerland".

When is the official Virgin Trains launch date?

Virgin's agreement with the ORR kicks in on 1 October 2030 — plenty of time to choose your destination. That agreement runs until the end of 2040.

Which UK stations will the trains run from?

For now, Virgin is focused on London St Pancras, giving Eurostar a run for its money. Branson, all guns blazing, said last year it's "time to end this 30-year monopoly and bring some Virgin magic to the cross-Channel route".

The ORR, in a more sober reflection, noted that bringing new services into the station would "demand more robust operational working" but suggested this shouldn't stand in the way of the plans.

Virgin has previously suggested that other UK stations could also get cross-Channel trains, including the Kent hubs of Ashford and Ebbsfleet.

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What will the new trains look like?

Back in January, we reported that Virgin had agreed to acquire 12 trainsets from manufacturer Alstom.

The chosen model, the Avelia Stream, is based on the Class 390 Pendolino that Virgin ran on its West Coast line (though it won't tilt). Each will have seven carriages and, according to a mock-up the company shared, the exteriors will be decked out in Virgin red and white.

What does this mean for Eurostar and ticket prices?

Branson hasn't been shy about his plan to "shake up the cross-Channel route". Prices haven't been confirmed yet, but he has also said: "If you have competition, then fares will inevitably come down. If we've got seats that need selling, we will reduce the cost of them."

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That seems pretty clear! Eurostar, for its part, reacted by acknowledging "the huge potential for growth in international rail and the ambition across the industry to bring more passengers to Europe by train", adding:

"Eurostar will play a full part in that growth, and our focus remains on delivering our own ambitious plans, investing in our fleet and carrying 30 million passengers a year."