UK: There is room for at most one new Channel Tunnel train operator to share Eurostar’s Temple Mills International depot in London, the Office of Rail & Road has concluded, and the regulator expects to make a decision on capacity allocation later this year.
Temple Mills is the only UK depot which is accessible from High Speed 1 and able to accommodate the larger-profile trains used in continental Europe. This makes access important to any operator seeking to launch new cross-Channel passenger train services, as well as for incumbent Eurostar’s own plans to increase services.
An independent assessment commissioned by ORR found that the depot has some capacity for more trains without any changes to current working practices, and some capacity could be delivered through further investment. After considering stakeholder feedback on the report published in March, ORR said on June 5 that had accepted the conclusions.
The regulator has now asked Eurostar and potential new entrants Evolyn, Virgin, Gemini Trains (working with Uber) and Trenitalia France (which has joined forces with Evolyn) to provide details of their plans so that it can decide on the best allocation of depot capacity.
ORR will take into account the availability of capacity, how proposed services will impact operational performance, financial and operational readiness and viability, economic and societal benefits and the views of stakeholders.
It expects to make a decision on capacity allocation by October 31.
| Timeline for considering applications and directing access | |
|---|---|
| Representations from applicants and interested parties | by July 3 2025 |
| Replies to initial representations | by July 31 2025 |
| ORR to assess applications | by September 30 2025 |
| ORR to issue access decisions | by October 31 2025 |
‘The growing appetite to provide international rail services is great news for passengers’, said Martin Jones, ORR Deputy Director, Access & International. ‘We now need operators to set out more detail on their proposals at pace, and will work quickly and as thoroughly as possible to determine the best use of capacity at Temple Mills.’
ORR cautioned that it would be some time before new services could launch, as applicants would need to secure regulatory approval in France, gain access to High Speed 1 and procure rolling stock.
A Virgin Group spokesperson told Railway Gazette International that ‘today’s report is great news for passengers on both sides of the Channel. It confirms what we already knew – that there is the capacity Virgin needs at Temple Mills – bringing the group even closer to unlocking competition on the cross-Channel route.’
Eurostar said it welcomed ORR’s recognition of the limited space available, saying ‘while the ORR report suggests some space could be created, it is not sufficient to meet the ambitions of all potential operators plus Eurostar’s own ambitious plans for growth’.
Eurostar will ‘continue to encourage private investment in new depot facilities beyond Temple Mills, of which there are many options’. It said said ‘a strategic, joined-up approach is needed to unlock the full potential of international rail for passengers and the UK economy. We remain committed to working with the ORR, government and industry to secure long-term solutions that enable growth across the sector.’
