Virgin cross-Channel trains will draw on the group’s hotel, cruise and airline businesses to shape the passenger experience, according to Virgin Group chief executive Josh Bayliss. The planned network would offer up to 20 daily return services linking London with continental Europe.
In a LinkedIn update following stakeholder meetings in Paris, Bayliss said the French capital would sit at the heart of the network. He put the planned annual offer at 7.5 million journeys.
Hospitality shapes Virgin cross-Channel trains
Bayliss identified three sources of inspiration for the rail business: Virgin Atlantic’s approach to hospitality before departure, the dining experience at Virgin Voyages and Virgin Hotels’ design expertise. The project will also draw on the group’s previous experience operating Virgin Trains.
The hospitality connection is central to the proposed customer proposition. Bayliss’s update describes how experience from the group’s existing travel businesses will inform the new service, rather than announcing a separate hotel opening or restaurant launch.
Alstom agreements cover 12 trains
In a primary announcement dated 9 October 2026, Alstom confirmed that it and Virgin had signed agreements covering 12 Avelia Stream high-speed trains and long-term maintenance. The services are planned to begin from 2030.
Alstom said its teams in Savigliano, Italy, would design and manufacture the trains, with maintenance carried out in the UK. The partnership builds on its earlier work supplying the Pendolino fleet operated by Virgin Trains on the West Coast Main Line.
What the partners said
“We are delighted to be back working with Alstom,” Bayliss said in the manufacturer’s announcement. He linked the project to investment in European rail and support for tourism and local economies.
Launch remains subject to further steps
The Office of Rail and Road announced on 17 August 2026 that it had pre-approved a framework track access agreement for up to 20 daily return services between London and Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam. The access period runs from 1 October 2030 to 31 December 2040.
The regulator said further requirements included rolling stock, access to other rail networks and safety approvals in the UK and EU. Alstom’s October announcement also states that order booking is expected upon regulatory approval and financial close. The 2030 timetable therefore remains a planned launch, and the announcements should not be read as confirmation that passenger services are ready to begin.
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