Virgin Group has been given the ‘green signal’ to compete with Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel, after confirmation that capacity could be made available at the Temple Mills maintenance depot in London.
A report by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) confirmed: “Eurostar’s London depot would be able, if required, to accommodate additional trains.”
However, the ORR said adjustments would need to be made. “Changes to operational and maintenance arrangements at the depot, as well as possible alterations to infrastructure, would be required to access extra capacity and allow more trains to be stabled/maintained there,” it said.
A Virgin Group spokesperson said: “Finally a green signal for competition. The Temple Mills depot is the only facility in the UK which can accommodate European-style trains and claims suggesting it was at capacity have been blocking Virgin from coming to the line.
“Virgin is therefore very pleased with the outcome and we thank the ORR for commissioning this report, which will now unlock competition on the cross-Channel route for the benefit of all passengers.
“There are no more major hurdles to overcome, and Virgin is ready to take up the challenge, given its award-winning experience in the train industry and track record for building globally successful travel brands.
“We expect to be able to make an announcement very soon. Watch this space.”
Eurostar, who has had a monopoly on cross-channel passenger rail services since it began operating in1994, responded to the report.
It said: “Eurostar welcomes this independent study by the Office of Road and Rail. It confirms what Eurostar has said all along: the Temple Mills depot is effectively almost full today for major maintenance work and would require investment to meet the growing demands of international rail.
Start-up Evolyn and new operator Gemini Trains have also expressed interest in running cross-channel trains, although no new routes have been confirmed.
See also: Virgin Group aims to raise £700m to launch Eurostar competitor
