Virgin Group announced on October 9, 2026, the design of a new high-speed train in a striking black and red color scheme, with plans to launch cross-border train services between London and Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam by 2030.
Virgin has signed an agreement with the French railway manufacturer Alstom to procure 12 Avelia Stream high-speed trains, capable of reaching speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour. Alstom will also be responsible for the maintenance of the trains under a contract lasting 30 years.
Virgin has also reached an agreement with Eurostar to maintain its trains at the Temple Mills International depot in East London. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) in the UK has given pre-approval for Virgin to use the High-Speed 1 (HS1) rail line, allowing them to operate up to 20 round trips daily between London and Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam from October 2030 to December 2040.
Virgin has stated that with a maximum of 20 daily round-trip train services, they will be able to add nearly 7.5 million seats per year to the Channel Tunnel cross-border railway and create up to 1,000 new jobs.
The train design will draw inspiration from Virgin’s aviation, cruise, and hotel businesses. The train cars will feature spaces for passengers to work, rest, and socialize, with dining services modeled after Virgin’s cruise ship practices, and a focus on comfort in seating and interior design.
Passengers will also be able to earn points through Virgin’s membership platform, Virgin Red, which can be used for future journeys, flights, hotel stays, cruises, and other experiences. The company has announced that more details about the train design and services will be revealed in the coming months.