The UK rail regulator has approved Virgin Trains’ application to use the Temple Mills depot in Leyton, bringing Richard Branson’s company a step closer to competing with Eurostar on cross-Channel passenger services.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said access to the east London depot, which provides maintenance and stabling for trains on High Speed 1, could unlock about £700m of private-sector investment and create around 400 jobs. Temple Mills is the only depot reachable directly from HS1, the line that links London to the Channel tunnel, making it crucial to any rival international operator.
The ORR’s decision gives Virgin the light-maintenance facilities it needs to run services to continental Europe, but several regulatory hurdles remain. Virgin still needs further approvals on matters such as track access and safety before any trains can begin running. The company has said it aims to launch competing cross-Channel services by about 2030.
Richard Branson welcomed the ORR ruling, saying it would end what he described as a 30-year monopoly and bring more choice to travellers. Virgin pointed to its experience challenging incumbents in other transport sectors and said it planned to “shake up” the route and deliver new options for passengers.
The Temple Mills approval comes months after the ORR rejected a separate bid by Virgin to return to the UK’s west coast mainline, citing concerns about delays and cancellations. Virgin Group has not operated UK trains since its west coast contract expired in December 2019.
Martin Jones, the ORR’s deputy director of access and international, said the decision supports customer choice and competition in international rail and would stimulate growth by unlocking substantial private investment. He added that the regulator is ready to work with Virgin as their plans develop, while noting there is still work to do before services can start.
Eurostar, which has been the sole passenger operator through the Channel tunnel since 1994, announced this month plans to introduce double-decker trains through the tunnel from 2031 to meet rising demand. In response to the ORR’s approval, Eurostar said it was reviewing the decision and considering next steps to ensure it can continue expanding, and stressed its focus on delivering recent investments in a new fleet, jobs and depot facilities.
