Eurostar has formally challenged the UK rail regulator’s decision to pre-approve Virgin Trains’ access to HS1, the high-speed railway linking London with the Channel Tunnel. The incumbent cross-Channel operator claims the process was “wholly non-transparent as well as unfair and discriminatory” and argues that capacity is effectively being reserved for its future rival.
Eurostar has launched a formal appeal against the decision that moved Virgin Trains significantly closer to launching competing cross-Channel high-speed services from London.
The challenge concerns the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) decision to pre-approve a track access framework agreement between Virgin Trains and London St Pancras Highspeed, the infrastructure manager of HS1.
The approval represents a major milestone in Virgin’s plan to launch services between London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from 2030, potentially ending Eurostar’s long-standing monopoly on passenger rail services through the Channel Tunnel.
Eurostar calls process “unfair and discriminatory”
In its appeal, Eurostar argues that the procedure leading to the decision was “wholly non-transparent as well as unfair and discriminatory.”
The operator also alleges that the HS1 infrastructure manager is effectively reserving capacity for Virgin while withholding the same capacity from other applicants and prospective operators.
“HS1 is in effect unlawfully reserving capacity for VTE [Virgin Trains] as an access applicant and withholding that same capacity from other applicants, including Eurostar, and aspirant operators,” Eurostar said in its appeal application.
The company argues that Virgin’s application should not have been assessed in isolation and that all relevant applications for HS1 capacity should be considered alongside one another.
Eurostar also referred to plans by other potential cross-Channel competitors, including Italian operator Trenitalia, as part of its argument over how available capacity should be allocated.
Virgin dismisses the appeal
Virgin Group rejected Eurostar’s challenge, describing it as “regrettable, predictable and, in our view, without merit.”
ORR has also defended its decision, saying it remains satisfied that approving the Virgin access agreement was appropriate.
The regulator’s pre-approval does not in itself allow Virgin to start carrying passengers. The company still has several major steps to complete, including securing rolling stock, access rights on continental infrastructure and the necessary safety and operating authorisations.
Virgin plans up to 20 daily return services
As RailwayPRO previously reported, the ORR decision would allow Virgin to operate up to 20 daily return services through HS1.
Virgin told RailwayPRO that its current operating plan envisages 13 return services to Paris, four to Brussels and three to Amsterdam.
The company also said that its next major milestone is the rolling stock order with Alstom. Discussions are at an advanced stage, although no firm train order has yet been announced.
Virgin previously told RailwayPRO that work to secure access to infrastructure in France, Belgium and the Netherlands is also progressing.
The HS1 decision follows another important regulatory breakthrough for the company. In 2025, Virgin secured access to the Temple Mills International depot in London, an essential facility for maintaining a future fleet of cross-Channel trains.
Trenitalia also remains in the race
Virgin is not the only company seeking to challenge Eurostar.
Trenitalia France, the French subsidiary of Italian national operator Trenitalia, is continuing preparations for its own cross-Channel services.
Although the company did not secure access to Temple Mills, it has pursued an alternative maintenance strategy in France, including plans for facilities capable of supporting future international operations.
The presence of several prospective operators is central to Eurostar’s appeal. Its argument is not formally against competition itself, but against the way in which scarce HS1 capacity is being allocated between competing applicants.
Competition battle moves into regulatory arena
Eurostar has remained the sole passenger rail operator through the Channel Tunnel for more than three decades.
Virgin’s progress has brought the prospect of direct competition closer than at any previous point, with the company targeting the start of commercial operations in 2030.
The latest appeal therefore moves the contest beyond train procurement and commercial plans and into a direct dispute over access to Britain’s high-speed infrastructure.
If Eurostar succeeds in forcing the capacity decision to be reconsidered, the regulatory timetable for Virgin’s planned launch could become another major factor in the race to introduce competition on the London–continental Europe market.
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