MORE TRAINS TO EUROPE – UPDATE ON PROGRESS SO FAR

In recent months there have been some promising announcements from several Train Operators.

VIRGIN TRAINS now have confirmed access to the Stratford Depot, HS1 and London St Pancras.They plan to run up to 20 services per day from London to Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam. They plan to order 12 Avelia Stream trains from Alstom, though the order has yet to be confirmed. They hope to start services in 2030.

See here for further information:https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/17/virgin-trains-services-to-europe-eurostar

TRENITALIA do not have access to the Stratford Depot and do not yet have confirmed access to HS1 and London St.Pancras. They do however have a depot under construction in Paris which could be used to maintain any trains serving London via the channel tunnel.They have already ordered another 19 Frecciarosso trains from Hitachi which already run on high speed lines in France.They hope to start services from London to Paris in 2029.

See here for further details: https://www.railwaygazette.com/rolling-stock/2026/08/07/trenitalia-orders-high-speed-trains-for-london-paris-service/

GEMINI plan to order 8 Siemens Velaro trains to run what could be a “low-cost” service from Stratford, Ebbsfleet and Ashford. Services to Paris could begin in 2030. They do not yet have confirmed access to HS1, but could build their own depot at Chart Leacon near Ashford.

See here for further information:RaillyNews – Gemini Trains Sets 2030 Goals as Strong Competitor to Eurostar

+++ CALEDONIAN SLEEPER . While this is early days, a feasibilty study has begun to explore options for extending this UK service from on from London to Mainland Europe.

See here for further information:https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/working-group-established-to-explore-caledonian-sleeper-links-to-mainland-europe/