From Newsgroup: uk.railway

https://www.orr.gov.uk/search-news/green-light-virgin-trains-international-services

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the rail regulator, has today announced
that on 13 August it decided to pre-approve a new framework track access agreement between HS1 Limited (trading as London St. Pancras Highspeed) and
VTE OPCO Limited (Virgin Trains). The agreement will allow Virgin Trains to operate up to 20 new daily return services between London and Paris,
Brussels or Amsterdam from 1 October 2030 to 31 December 2040.

The agreement is a significant step forward in bringing competition to the market for international rail services, supporting economic growth and providing significant benefits for passengers travelling between London and continental Europe.

Virgin Trains and London St Pancras High Speed may now enter into the
agreement by 4 September 2026.

There are a number of steps before the new services will be able to run.
Virgin Trains must also procure rolling stock, secure access to other rail networks, and obtain safety approvals from ORR and the relevant authorities
in the EU. Virgin Trains plans to begin running services in 2030.

Martin Jones, deputy director, access & international, said:

rCLThis is an important next step in bringing competition and growth to the market for international rail services, and we welcome the progress Virgin Trains and London St Pancras High Speed have made. While there is still
more work to do, we are supporting Virgin and the wider industry to grow international services.rCY


--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

On 17/08/2026 11:45, Tweed wrote:

rCLThis is an important next step in bringing competition and growth to the market for international rail services, and we welcome the progress Virgin Trains and London St Pancras High Speed have made. While there is still
more work to do, we are supporting Virgin and the wider industry to grow international services.rCY

Aren't Virgin planning to cover the same routes as Eurostar? I'd like
some imagination, such as perhaps travelling to Germany or Switzerland.

The uneducated comments on the BBC article are hilarious: <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjrvx4yye81o>

Cheers,
--
Rob
"I have never understood why it should be necessary to become irrational
in order to prove that you care, or, indeed, why it should be necessary
to prove it at all." - Avon, Blake's 7

--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway

In message <neg8uhFtm5tU1@mid.individual.net>, at 12:17:37 on Mon, 17
Aug 2026, Robert <monstoor@spammedia.com> remarked:

On 17/08/2026 11:45, Tweed wrote:

rCLThis is an important next step in bringing competition and growth to the >> market for international rail services, and we welcome the progress Virgin >> Trains and London St Pancras High Speed have made. While there is still
more work to do, we are supporting Virgin and the wider industry to grow
international services.rCY

Aren't Virgin planning to cover the same routes as Eurostar? I'd like
some imagination, such as perhaps travelling to Germany or Switzerland.

I'd like to see some additional destinations in France, such as the Ski
trains (which aren't that far from Switzerland).

It'll be interesting to see where/when any German destination implements
the necessary security/immigration facilities for any operator.

The uneducated comments on the BBC article are hilarious: ><https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjrvx4yye81o>

They always are.
--
Roland Perry
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.railway


Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> posted:

In message <neg8uhFtm5tU1@mid.individual.net>, at 12:17:37 on Mon, 17
Aug 2026, Robert <monstoor@spammedia.com> remarked:

On 17/08/2026 11:45, Tweed wrote:

rCLThis is an important next step in bringing competition and growth to the
market for international rail services, and we welcome the progress Virgin >> Trains and London St Pancras High Speed have made. While there is still
more work to do, we are supporting Virgin and the wider industry to grow >> international services.rCY

Aren't Virgin planning to cover the same routes as Eurostar? I'd like
some imagination, such as perhaps travelling to Germany or Switzerland.

I'd like to see some additional destinations in France, such as the Ski trains (which aren't that far from Switzerland).

They might have been reasons for discontinuing them.

It'll be interesting to see where/when any German destination implements
the necessary security/immigration facilities for any operator.

Easier into Germany as easier into Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
More complicated on the way back.
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2