2:02 am - October 22, 2025
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MANCHESTER and Birmingham might quickly get Channel Tunnel trains.
Virgin has actually exposed that it wishes to run services from Manchester and Birmingham to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, if it wins the quote to run cross-channel services.
If the paths were released, the trains would require to run by means of the West Coast Main Line and after that divert throughout north London to sign up with the Channel Tunnel path at Stratford.
A Virgin representative stated: “Resuming the stations to be able to accommodate global services needs dedication and resources from all celebrations and possible rivals included.
” However if the stations are opened, Virgin will drop in Kent.”
Virgin has actually likewise vowed to resume Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International stations, which have actually both been closed given that 2020.
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Virgin would then run 20 services every day from London St Pancras to Paris and Amsterdam by means of Brussels, within the next 5 years.
In the future, Virgin stated it might likewise include services to Germany and Switzerland too.
In August, Virgin signed an offer for 12 brand-new high-speed trains.
The “binding exclusivity” with Alstom suggests Virgin would get a lots Avelia Stream trains to utilize for journeys into mainland Europe.
Virgin is simply among numerous business bidding to run services throughout the channel; other business consist of Gemini Trains and Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS).
The latter has actually stated they would seek to reboot train paths from Ashford International Station also.
If Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane succeeded in its quote to acquire a Channel Tunnel agreement, they ‘d release trains from in between London and Paris from 2029 onwards, with a drop in Ashford.
On The Other Hand, Gemini Trains has actually exposed strategies to release 10 trains from the UK to Europe, consisting of paths to Paris and Brussels.
The ORR will decide about the future of cross-channel services, by either permitting a brand-new operator to run services or enable Eurostar to grow its services.
If Eurostar did broaden, the operator has actually revealed that it wishes to run services to a variety of brand-new locations, such as Frankfurt and Geneva.
A decision is set to be made on October 31.
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The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot discusses how this is great news for UK tourists
WHILE a 2nd operator on the channel tunnel might just be a favorable relocation for tourists, there are substantial difficulties before this might end up being truth.
Eurostar presently has a monopoly on the path and competitors would possibly bring more option, lower costs and brand-new paths.
Eurostar itself is a shadow of the business it remained in its magnificence days with direct paths to Disneyland Paris, Lyon, Avignon and Marseille plus its wonderful ski train to the Alps.
While the pandemic brought the business practically to its knees, it has actually been progressively returning on its feet and the merger with Belgian operator Thalys has actually opened quick train services to Germany.
However the tightness on area at St Pancras and the upkeep depot at Temple Mills plus the possible interruption when the brand-new European Entry Exit System lastly shows up mean there are still substantial issues that require to be resolved.
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In other train news, among the UK’s a lot of stunning underground train stations was influenced by Russia.
Plus, a brand-new UK train service is set to link 2 significant cities and tickets are a deal.
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