Virgin Trains has received regulatory approval to run services from London St Pancras to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. This would potentially break Eurostar’s long-held autonomy on passenger rail through the Channel Tunnel, and give British holidaymakers more options for their European getaways. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has given the green light, pre-approving a track access deal between Virgin and HS1 Ltd, which runs the high-speed route from St Pancras to the tunnel entrance.Under the deal, Virgin could put on up to 20 return services a day between London and the three European capitals, starting from October 2030 and lasting through to the end of 2040.Virgin Trains is planning routes across Europe | VIRGIN The two parties now have a deadline of September 4, 2026, to formally sign the agreement that would make the update official.The ORR described the deal as a major step forward in bringing competition to international rail, which should mean real benefits for passengers heading between London and the continent. The regulator announced its pre-approval decision today, and Virgin has already been laying the groundwork for this. Last year, the company secured access to Eurostar’s Temple Mills depot in east London — the only maintenance facility with a direct connection to the High Speed 1 line.Before operations could begin, Virgin needs rolling stock, to lock down access to rail networks on the European side, and to clear safety hurdles with regulators in both the UK and the EU. The company is aiming to have everything in place to launch services in 2030.The ORR’s deputy director for access and international, Martin Jones, said: “This is an important next step in bringing competition and growth to the market for international rail services, and we welcome the progress Virgin Trains and London St Pancras High Speed have made. “While there is still more work to do, we are supporting Virgin and the wider industry to grow international services.”Routes could go to Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels from 2030 | GETTY