First look at Virgin’s new Eurostar rival – what we know so far

The agreement means Virgin Trains are permitted to run up to 20 new daily return services between London and Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam. Furthermore, the head-turning approval grants access to cross-border rail services between 1 October 2030 and 31 December 2040.

Following the announcement of Virgin Trains’ bid to run competitor services last year and the ORR’s approval for the group to use Temple Mills International rail depot in East London, founder Sir Richard Branson said,…