Virgin Trains Faces New Competition on London–Paris Rail Route

Virgin Trains celebrated at the end of last year after being granted permission to store trains at the Temple Mills International depot, positioning the operator to become the first to challenge Eurostar’s 30-year Channel Tunnel monopoly.

However, Virgin’s lead may now be under threat.

Italy’s state-owned railway, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Group), was among the bidders that lost out to Virgin for access to Temple Mills. Despite this setback, the company remains determined to launch cross-channel services.

Last week, FS Group announced a partnership with US investment firm Certares to develop a high-speed rail connection between London and Paris by 2029, through its Trenitalia France subsidiary—a year ahead of Virgin’s planned launch.

Rather than relying on storage at Temple Mills, FS Group plans to build a new £87 million facility near Paris, capable of housing a fleet of 10 trains. This approach would reduce the need for overnight train storage in the UK, requiring only one train from the first morning departure from St Pancras to remain in Britain. Current tunnel usage is around 50%, leaving capacity for Eurostar, Virgin, and FS Group services.

A spokesperson for FS Group said the company intends to expand its network with the London–Paris route and additional cross-border services. They added:

“The partnership with Certares aims to position France, the Paris-London corridor, and the future areas included in the joint venture as showcases for the future of sustainable European transport, benefiting French, UK, and European customers.”