Virgin Trains is positioning itself as a serious rival to Eurostar on cross-Channel rail traffic, according to Le Monde.fr. The company has ordered 12 high-speed trains from French manufacturer Alstom as it prepares to enter the Channel Tunnel market, Les Echos reports.
The plan centers on 13 daily round trips between London and Paris, according to 20 Minutes and Ouest-France. BFM reports that Virgin intends to launch the service in 2030 and aims to "do better than Eurostar," with onboard Starlink connectivity and a renovation of Gare du Nord among the elements cited.
The order for a dozen trainsets from Alstom gives Virgin the rolling stock needed to operate the route, which runs through the undersea tunnel linking Britain and France. Eurostar has long been the sole operator of passenger services on this crossing.
According to the reporting, Virgin's proposed schedule of 13 London-Paris return journeys per day would mark a significant expansion of capacity on the route. The company has also signaled ambitions around passenger experience, including satellite internet access during the journey.
The Gare du Nord renovation referenced in the coverage points to the need for terminal capacity in Paris to handle additional services. Further details on fares, journey times, and the regulatory approvals required to operate in the tunnel have not been reported in the material available.
What to watch next: whether Virgin secures the tunnel access and safety approvals needed to begin operations by its stated 2030 target.
