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High Speed 1
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=== Future operations and intentions === ==== Deutsche Bahn ==== [[File:SiemensVelaroD-InnoTrans2010.jpg|thumb|Deutsche Bahn planned services using Siemens Velaro D trains]] In November 2007, it was reported that DB, Germany's national train company, had applied to use the Channel Tunnel and High Speed 1 into London. This was denied by Deutsche Bahn, and the bi-national Channel Tunnel Safety Authority confirmed that it had not received such an application.<ref name="highspeedwho">{{cite news |url=http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/2007/11/rail-579-who-is-going-to-use-the-new-high-speed-line/ |issue=579 |title=Who is going to use the new high speed line? |date=23 November 2007 |first=Christian |last=Wolmar |author-link=Christian Wolmar |work=Rail |location=Peterborough |access-date=11 May 2009 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721000227/http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/2007/11/rail-579-who-is-going-to-use-the-new-high-speed-line/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The plan was delayed by safety regulations as Deutsche Bahn's fleet of [[ICE 3]]M high-speed trains could not be divided in the tunnel in an emergency.<ref name="ES-DB1">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23419061-german-rival-for-eurostar.do |title=German rival for Eurostar |last=Murray |first=Dick |date=19 December 2007 |newspaper=London Evening Standard |access-date=7 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605063102/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23419061-german-rival-for-eurostar.do |archive-date=5 June 2011 }}</ref> In December 2008, it was reported that DB was interested in buying the British share in Eurostar,<ref name="Times_12 December 2009_DB">{{cite news | url = https://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article5327300.ece | title = We'll buy UK's share of Eurostar — and run it better, say Germans | work = [[The Times]] | location = London | date = 12 December 2008 | access-date = 18 December 2008 | last = Webster | first = Ben | archive-date = 11 June 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110611190218/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article5327300.ece | url-status = live }}</ref> which in practice meant buying Eurostar (UK) Ltd., the 100% subsidiary of [[London & Continental Railways]] (LCR), which the British government intended to break up and sell just as it did the other rail-related subsidiary of L&CR, HS1 Ltd.<ref name="Eurotoll">{{cite news |title=Fees for high-speed tunnel link derail Eurostar's gravy train |last=O'Connell |first=Dominic |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article3671706.ece |work=[[The Times]] |location=London |date=13 March 2008 |access-date=29 May 2009 |archive-date=12 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612141213/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article3671706.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="L&CR_Future">[http://www.lcrhq.co.uk/ London & Continental Railways] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724052923/http://www.lcrhq.co.uk/ |date=24 July 2019 }} – scroll down to section "About the future".</ref> The buyer of EUKL would become the owner of the 11 British "Three Capitals" Class 373 trainsets plus all seven "North of London" sets, and would also be responsible for the operations of Eurostar traffic within Britain once the management contract with ICRR expires in 2010. [[Guillaume Pépy]], the president of SNCF, who held a press conference the same day, described DB's interest as "premature, presumptuous and arrogant".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-197853897.html |title=2010: A high-speed odyssey |work=International Railway Journal |location=London |access-date=11 May 2009 |last=Barrow |first=Keith |date=1 April 2009 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> SNCF claims to own 62% of the shares of Eurostar Group Ltd. [[Hartmut Mehdorn]], then CEO of Deutsche Bahn, confirmed DB's interest but insisted in a letter to Pépy that DB had only informally requested information and not made any official requests to Britain's [[Department for Transport]].<ref name="AFP_16 December 2008">{{cite news |url=http://www.lepoint.fr/actualites-economie/2008-12-16/chemins-de-fer-le-ton-monte-entre-deutsche-bahn-et-la-sncf/916/0/300280 |title=Chemins de fer: le ton monte entre Deutsche Bahn et la SNCF |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=16 December 2008 |language=fr |access-date=23 May 2011 |work=Le Point |location=Paris |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405002137/http://www.lepoint.fr/actualites-economie/2008-12-16/chemins-de-fer-le-ton-monte-entre-deutsche-bahn-et-la-sncf/916/0/300280 |archive-date=5 April 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In 2009, [[Getlink|Eurotunnel]] (the owners of the Channel Tunnel) announced that it was prepared to start relaxing the [[fire safety]] regulations, in order to permit other operators, such as Deutsche Bahn, to transport passengers via the Tunnel using other forms of rolling stock.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5018915,00.html?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf |title=Deutsche Bahn gets access to Channel Tunnel |date=16 December 2009 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |location=Berlin |access-date=27 September 2010 |archive-date=22 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122132253/http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5018915,00.html?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Under the deregulation of European railway service, high-speed lines were opened up to access by other operators on 1 January 2010; the Inter-Governmental Commission on the Channel Tunnel (IGC) announced that it was considering relaxing the safety requirements concerning train splitting. LCR suggested that high-speed rail services between London and Cologne could commence before the 2012 Olympics.<ref name="ES-DB2">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23801905-the-train-at-st-pancras-will-be-departing-for-germany-via-channel-tunnel.do |title=The train at St Pancras will be departing for … Germany via Channel Tunnel |last=Lydall |first=Ross |date=3 February 2010 |newspaper=London Evening Standard |access-date=7 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206220255/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23801905-the-train-at-st-pancras-will-be-departing-for-germany-via-channel-tunnel.do |archive-date=6 February 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref> In March 2010, Eurotunnel, HS1 Ltd, DB and other interested train operators formed a working group to discuss changes to the safety rules, including allowing 200-metre trains. The Intergovernmental Commission currently requires trains to be 400 m long.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article7055789.ece | work=[[The Times]] | location=London | title=Deutsche Bahn may run London to Frankfurt service | date=10 March 2010 | access-date=2 April 2010 | first=Angela | last=Jameson | archive-date=29 June 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629133136/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article7055789.ece | url-status=dead }}</ref> Deutsche Bahn carried out evacuation trials in the tunnel on 17 October 2010 with two 200m-long ICE3 trains, and displayed one of them at St Pancras station on 19 October.<ref name=BBCDB /> The current Velaro [[ICE3]] sets do not meet the fire safety requirements for passenger services through the tunnel, but the [[Siemens Velaro##Velaro D|Siemens Velaro D]] sets on order include the necessary additional fire-proofing.<ref name="rg-ice3-chunnel">{{cite news | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/deutsche-bahn-to-run-ice3-to-britain-this-year.html | title=Deutsche Bahn to run ICE3 to Britain this year | work=[[Railway Gazette International]] | location=London | date=29 July 2010 | access-date=30 July 2010 | archive-date=1 December 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201082947/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/deutsche-bahn-to-run-ice3-to-britain-this-year.html | url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2011, the European Rail Agency decided to allow trains with distributed traction to operate in the Channel Tunnel.<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.deutschebahn.com/site/bahn/en/press/press__information/passenger__transport/20110322__db__ice__services__london.html |publisher= Deutsche Bahn |title= ERA Channel Tunnel report is a welcome first step for Deutsche Bahn's high speed ICE services to London |date= 22 March 2011 |access-date= 17 April 2011 |archive-date= 5 May 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110505013818/http://www.deutschebahn.com/site/bahn/en/press/press__information/passenger__transport/20110322__db__ice__services__london.html |url-status= live }}</ref> DB is planning three services a day to [[Frankfurt]] (5h from London), [[Rotterdam]] (3h) and [[Amsterdam]] (4h) via Brussels<ref name=BBCDB>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11567753 |title=German rail firm DB competes for Channel Tunnel routes |date=19 October 2010 |work=BBC News |location=London |access-date=19 October 2010 |last=Scott |first=Richard |archive-date=20 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020131924/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11567753 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.rharchive.info/Issue285.pdf | title=Deutsche Bahn to start commercial services from London in 2013 | work=Railway Herald, Issue 285 page 9 | date=26 September 2011 | access-date=27 September 2011 | url-status=usurped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016022702/http://www.rharchive.info/Issue285.pdf | archive-date=16 October 2011 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> from 2015. This had originally planned to be 2013, but has been delayed due to the availability of the Channel Tunnel version of the Siemens Velaro D trains, high rental costs of the French rail network and border controls in their stations.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/100254/deutsche-bahn-postpones-london-rail-route | title=Channel Tunnel | work=Business Traveller | date=19 February 2014 | access-date=9 January 2015 | archive-date=9 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109184222/http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/100254/deutsche-bahn-postpones-london-rail-route | url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2016, nothing yet has come to fruition, but the High Speed One website continues to state that "HS1 Ltd are working with Deutsche Bahn on plans to incorporate three additional international return journeys, between Frankfurt and London via Cologne, Brussels and Lille. This will include connections from Amsterdam via Rotterdam to London."<ref name="hs1">{{cite web | url=http://highspeed1.co.uk/rail/international-rail-services | title=International Rail Services | website=High Speed 1 | access-date=23 July 2016 | archive-date=23 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623130023/http://highspeed1.co.uk/rail/international-rail-services | url-status=dead }}</ref> In March 2017, it was announced that Deutsche Bahn had revived plans for a London to Frankfurt train service with the service beginning as early as 2020. The service would take around five hours and could rival airlines and become the first competitor for Eurostar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityam.com/260147/getting-brexit-ready-german-rail-operator-revives-plans|title=Gearing up for Brexit: London-Frankfurt express trains could arrive by 2020|first=Rebecca|last=Smith|date=2 March 2017|website=City AM|access-date=15 April 2017|archive-date=16 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416125325/http://www.cityam.com/260147/getting-brexit-ready-german-rail-operator-revives-plans|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2018, Deutsche Bahn stated the plans have been shelved due to a "significantly changed economic environment".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/london-frankfurt-cologne-train-deutsche-bahn-db-eurostar-cancelled-shelved-a8394806.html|title=Plans for UK-Germany high speed rail services shelved due to 'significantly changed economic environment'|last=Stone|first=Jon|date=16 June 2018|website=The Independent|access-date=17 May 2019|archive-date=12 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512144715/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/london-frankfurt-cologne-train-deutsche-bahn-db-eurostar-cancelled-shelved-a8394806.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2024, DB remarked "transport between London and the mainland through the Eurotunnel remains of fundamental interest to Deutsche Bahn", though noting that the routes and trains were not yet equipped with end-to-end [[European Train Control System|ETCS]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 January 2024 |title=Channel Tunnel: Deutsche Bahn keen on trains to London |url=https://www.dw.com/en/channel-tunnel-deutsche-bahn-keen-on-trains-to-london/a-67973093 |work=[[Deutsche Welle]]}}</ref> ==== Veolia ==== In 2009, [[Veolia|Veolia Transport]] (now defunct and merged into [[Transdev]]) planned to work on proposals in co-operation with [[Trenitalia]] to run services from Paris to Strasbourg, London and Brussels.<ref>[http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/veoila-and-trenitalia-mount-rival-eurostar-service/ "Veoila and Trenitalia mount rival Eurostar service"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091227064737/http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/veoila-and-trenitalia-mount-rival-eurostar-service/ |date=27 December 2009 }}, ''Breaking Travel News'', 24 December 2009.</ref> ==== Services to Bordeaux ==== It was revealed in March 2020 that High Speed 1 Ltd, along with SNCF and Lisea, were looking for an operator for a future London St Pancras{{ndash}}[[Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean|Bordeaux St Jean]] train service.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 March 2020 |title=SNCF wants London - Bordeaux by 2022 |url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/sncf-london-bordeaux-2022/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801152651/https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/sncf-london-bordeaux-2022/ |archive-date=1 August 2020 |access-date=8 March 2020}}</ref> ==== Renfe ==== [[File:Talgo 350.jpg|thumb|Spanish AVE train]] The Spanish railway operator said in 2009 that it was interested in running [[AVE]] services from Spain to London via Paris,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-03-25/deutsche-bahn-push-for-u-k-rail-supremacy-upset-by-failed-bids |work=Bloomberg |location=New York |title=Deutsche Bahn Push for U.K. Rail Supremacy Upset by Failed Bids |date=9 March 2010 |access-date=15 August 2021 |quote=Renfe said … it's looking for opportunities to expand … through the [Channel] tunnel. |archive-date=15 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815041025/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-03-25/deutsche-bahn-push-for-u-k-rail-supremacy-upset-by-failed-bids |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Lyon]], Barcelona, Madrid and Lisbon (using the [[Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line]]) once its [[AVE]] network was connected to France via the [[Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line#Barcelona to Figueres|Barcelona to Figueres]] and [[LGV Perpignan–Figueres|Perpignan to Figueres lines]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/advice/rail-offers-london-to-madrid-in-eight-hours-bdz63gb5k59 | newspaper=[[The Times]] | location=London | title=Rail offers London to Madrid in eight hours | date=27 November 2009 | access-date=15 August 2021 | first=Graham | last=Keeley | archive-date=15 August 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815040442/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/rail-offers-london-to-madrid-in-eight-hours-bdz63gb5k59 | url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2021, Renfe announced that it intends to operate high-speed trains between Paris and London using the Channel Tunnel and High Speed 1. A Renfe spokesperson has said that there are possible options available on the high-speed route for additional trains to operate. “According to the demand analyses carried out, it would be viable and profitable for Renfe to compete with Eurostar.”<ref name="High Speed">{{cite news |last1=Clinnick |first1=Richard |title=Renfe wants to operate trains to London |url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/renfe-wants-to-operate-trains-to-london/ |access-date=27 October 2021 |publisher=International Rail Journal |date=26 October 2021 |ref=High Speed |archive-date=26 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026180907/https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/renfe-wants-to-operate-trains-to-london/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The rail company claims it had already received support from Getlink – the European company that operates the Channel tunnel – and from HS1, which owns, runs and maintains the 109{{nbsp}}km rail line between the Channel tunnel and London.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Sam |title=Spanish rail reveals plans for high-speed London to Paris link |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/oct/27/spanish-rail-reveals-plans-for-high-speed-london-to-paris-link |access-date=27 October 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=26 October 2021 |ref=Rail Industry |archive-date=27 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027115615/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/oct/27/spanish-rail-reveals-plans-for-high-speed-london-to-paris-link |url-status=live }}</ref> ==== Getlink ==== In August 2018, ''[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]'' reported that Getlink is interested in setting up an [[Ouigo]]-style low cost high speed rail service between London and Paris, travelling between the railway stations of [[Stratford International station|Stratford International]] and [[Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV|Charles-de-Gaulle]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-17/the-discount-airline-model-is-coming-for-europe-s-railways|title=The Discount Airline Model Is Coming for Europe's Railways|date=2018-08-17|website=Bloomberg Businessweek|access-date=18 February 2021|archive-date=2 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202103315/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-17/the-discount-airline-model-is-coming-for-europe-s-railways|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2023, it announced it would to double the market for direct high speed trains from the UK over the next 10 years. It aimed to reduce the time to market from 10 to 5 years, with services considered including from London to Cologne, Frankfurt, Geneva and Zurich. This would be done through market research, standardising tunnel regulations, introducing tunnel specific criteria into standard rolling stock designs, and working with network operators and stations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2023 |title=Getlink to enable the doubling of direct high speed rail services from the UK over the next 10 years via the Channel Tunnel. |url=https://press.getlinkgroup.com/news/getlink-to-enable-the-doubling-of-direct-high-speed-rail-services-from-the-uk-over-the-next-10-years-via-the-channel-tunnel-8ee5-0791e.html |work=[[Getlink]]}}</ref> ==== Heuro ==== In November 2023, the Dutch rail start up, Heuro, led by Maarten van den Biggelaar, a Dutch entrepreneur, and his son, planned to offer 16 services per day from Amsterdam to both London and Paris.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Preston |first=Robert |date=14 November 2023 |title=Heuro plans high-speed services from Amsterdam to Brussels, Paris and London |url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/heuro-plans-high-speed-services-from-amsterdam-to-brussels-paris-and-london/ |work=[[International Railway Journal]]}}</ref> It is looking to raise €600 million for the service.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baldwin |first=Jeroen |date=15 April 2024 |title=Looking for 600 million (H)euros for trains to Paris and London |url=https://www.railtech.com/new-routes/2024/04/15/looking-for-600-million-heuros-for-trains-to-paris-and-london/ |work=RailTech}}</ref> It plans to use [[Zefiro (train)#Zefiro 300|Zefiro V300]] trains, similar to the [[Frecciarossa 1000]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bremont |first=Emmanuel |date=11 June 2024 |title=The new high-end Dutch operator Heuro wants to compete with Eurostar with Zefiro V300s |url=https://railcolornews.com/2024/06/11/passenger-the-new-high-end-dutch-operator-heuro-wants-to-compete-with-eurostar-with-zefiro-v300s/ |work=Railcolor}}</ref> ==== Evolyn and FS Group ==== Evolyn, led by the Cosmen family of Spain (the largest shareholder in [[Mobico Group|Mobico]]) and backed by British and French partners, planned to start non-stop services between London and Paris by 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 October 2023 |title=Evolyn to launch Paris – London trains in competition with Eurostar |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/high-speed/evolyn-to-launch-paris-london-trains-in-competition-with-eurostar/65100.article |work=[[Railway Gazette International]]}}</ref> Corporate filings by Eurostar take the opinion of 2028 being a more likely market entry date, likely due to the increased regulatory challenges following Brexit.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Gill |first=Oliver |date=2 June 2024 |title=Eurostar will have no competitors for at least four years |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/eurostar-english-channel-tunnel-operator-four-years-9bd9hr2q8 |work=[[The Times]]}}</ref> Evolyn reported to be looking to order 12 trains from [[Alstom]], depending on securing project financing and regulatory approval.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=13 November 2023 |title=13/10/2023 - Alstom statement on Evolyn Press Release issued on October 11 |url=https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2023/10/13102023-alstom-statement-evolyn-press-release-issued-october-11 |work=[[Alstom]]}}</ref> In April 2025, the [[Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane|Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group]] announced their intention to offer services between London and Paris by 2029, with [[Frecciarossa]] branded trains. It signed a memorandum of understanding to explore working in partnership with Evolyn <ref>{{Cite news |date=8 April 2025 |title=FS Group: plan to launch a new High-Speed link between London and Paris |url=https://www.fsitaliane.it/content/fsitaliane/en/media/press-releases/2025/4/8/fs-group-high-speed-london-paris.html |work=FS Group}}</ref> ==== Gemini Trains ==== In April 2025, Gemini Trains, chaired by [[Anthony Gueterbock, 18th Baron Berkeley|Lord Tony Berkeley]], announced its plans to offer services from London and Ebbsfleet to Paris and Brussels.<ref>https://geminitrains.com/</ref> In May 2025, Gemini Trains, announced plans to co-brand its 10 planned trains with [[Uber]], who would also sell tickets through its app, similar to the [[Thames Clippers]] services. It aims to begin services from Stratford International, noting it as less crowded and thus being a "blank canvas". It claims to be able to start operations as soon as 2030.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Preston |first=Robert |date=2025-05-21 |title=Uber joins cross-Channel new entrant |url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/uber-joins-cross-channel-new-entrant/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=International Railway Journal |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Calder |first=Simon |date=2025-05-21 |title=Could Stratford replace St Pancras as the gateway to Europe? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/stratford-channel-tunnel-st-pancras-europe-trains-b2755262.html |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> ==== Virgin Group ==== As of 2024, the [[Virgin Group]] was in the process of exploring whether high speed cross-Channel services would be feasible. Under the name "Project Bullet<nowiki>''</nowiki>, it is gauging interest with investors for a £200 million equity raise. It is also looking to finance 12 trains, shortlisting two suppliers, for the service planned between London, Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels from 2028.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roumpis |first=Nick |date=26 July 2024 |title=Virgin plans equity raise for cross-channel rail |url=https://ionanalytics.com/insights/infralogic/virgin-issues-teasers-for-cross-channel-rail-capital-raise/ |website=ION Analytics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 November 2024 |title='Turning point' reached for potential new Channel Tunnel train operators |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/passenger/turning-point-reached-for-potential-new-channel-tunnel-train-operators/67863.article |work=[[Railway Gazette International]]}}</ref> Virgin and Evolyn remarked in November 2024 at an industry event in the [[Palace of Westminster|Houses of Parliament]], that Eurostar had not agreed access to [[Temple Mills Depot|Temple Mills depot]]. The companies later appealed to the [[Office of Rail and Road|ORR]] to assess the available capacity.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Georgiadis |first=Philip |date=20 November 2024 |title=Dispute over London depot threatens plans to break Eurostar monopoly |url=https://www.ft.com/content/1f5e2148-843d-48d9-b121-0969cd706899 |work=[[Financial Times]]}}</ref> This led to a report being published in March 2025 and commissioned by the ORR, confirming some capacity can be made available.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 March 2025 |title=Rail regulator says some capacity can be made available at Eurostar depot |url=https://www.orr.gov.uk/search-news/rail-regulator-says-some-capacity-can-be-made-available-eurostar-depot |access-date= |website=Office of Rail and Road |language=en}}</ref> Following the report, Virgin claimed that there were "no more major hurdles" to their market entry.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Topham |first=Gwyn |date=2025-03-31 |title=Virgin says ‘no more major hurdles’ to running cross-Channel trains |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/mar/31/virgin-no-more-major-hurdles-running-cross-channel-trains |access-date=2025-04-29 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
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