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13 May 2026
Eurostar and Virgin looking to grow international rail
The future growth of international rail is set to be discussed at Rail LIVE at a time when operators both current and future develop new plans.
Eurostar has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SNCF Voyageurs and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) to explore ways of running direct services between London and Switzerland.
The operator confirmed last year it plans to serve Geneva and Frankfurt in Germany from the 2030s once its new double-decker Alstom Celestia sets are in operation.
Meanwhile Virgin and London St Pancras Highspeed (LSPH) are consulting on their track access agreement for the former to use HS1 from October 1 2030.
Virgin is set to start competing with Eurostar on its existing routes to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam in the 2030s.
This comes as LSPH, which owns and operates HS1 and St Pancras International, expects passenger numbers along the route to grow from 11 million to 35 million by 2040.
Rail LIVE will provide the opportunity to discuss the future of international rail travel from the UK, exploring the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead.
Gareth Williams (General Secretary, Eurostar), Phil Whittingham (Project Lead, Virgin) and Ed Butcher (Head Of Business Development, LSPH) will be on the panel which will take place in the Strategy and Leadership Theatre at 14:30 on day one.
Eurostar has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SNCF Voyageurs and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) to explore ways of running direct services between London and Switzerland.
The operator confirmed last year it plans to serve Geneva and Frankfurt in Germany from the 2030s once its new double-decker Alstom Celestia sets are in operation.
Meanwhile Virgin and London St Pancras Highspeed (LSPH) are consulting on their track access agreement for the former to use HS1 from October 1 2030.
Virgin is set to start competing with Eurostar on its existing routes to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam in the 2030s.
This comes as LSPH, which owns and operates HS1 and St Pancras International, expects passenger numbers along the route to grow from 11 million to 35 million by 2040.
Rail LIVE will provide the opportunity to discuss the future of international rail travel from the UK, exploring the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead.
Gareth Williams (General Secretary, Eurostar), Phil Whittingham (Project Lead, Virgin) and Ed Butcher (Head Of Business Development, LSPH) will be on the panel which will take place in the Strategy and Leadership Theatre at 14:30 on day one.