What if the first concurrent direct from Eurostar into the Channel Tunnel fell from the sky? According to information from the Financial Times, the Virgin group is preparing its arrival on the cross-Channel rail. Richard Branson's group intends to raise some £700 million in capital. This could enable the arrival of a new alternative on the Paris-London route, by 2029. Brussels would also be served, followed by Amsterdam. Phil Whittingham, head of rail projects at Virgin Group, told the Financial Times, "we think Virgin is the ideal brand to mark the start of a new era in cross-Channel travel", while admitting that it would be a "gigantic undertaking".
The opening up to competition of this strategic route for the business travel market is regularly in the headlines. For the record, the Deutsche Bahn was originally due to run on this route during the London Olympics! And Evolyn has ordered 12 Avelia high-speed trains from Alstom. Delivery is scheduled for this year, with launch in 2026.
of the Channel Tunnel.
Above all, for several months now, the managers of the infrastructures concerned have been making appeals to rail companies to encourage them to take the plunge. <Getlink, which operates Eurotunnel, invited the press to a press conference in December 2023 with a view to speeding up the submission of applications. The Financial Times points out that "Getlink has simplified safety rules and offered €50 million in subsidies to encourage companies to open cross-Channel rail services". As for St Pancras station, its managers are also calling for an increase in international services. The spare capacity of the London station is estimated at 50%: enough to easily make room for a new rail company. On condition, however, that it equips itself with trains that are compatible with the specifications of the Channel Tunnel.
At Eurostar, in anticipation of unprecedented competition, the talk is of fair play. In the FT, the company's management welcomed the increased competition on Europe's railways.
