Eurostar’s 31-year monopoly on international trains from the UK is set to end after Virgin Trains was cleared to operate rail services through the Channel Tunnel.
The decision by the Office of Rail and Road means Richard Branson’s company can start work on its plan to introduce a rival service from 2030, running trains from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. The project will unlock £700 million ($923 million) of investment in new services and create 400 new jobs, the ORR said.