00:00virgin trains has moved closer to running services through the channel tunnel after the
00:07rail regulator approved its plan to share a maintenance depot with eurostar now the decision
00:15by the office of rail and road marks the beginning of the end of eurostar's 30-year monopoly on
00:24passenger services through the tunnel from london to europe which first opened in 1994
00:31temple mills depot in east london is the only site in the uk able to handle the larger continental
00:39style trains and it will now be shared between the two operators virgin aims to begin cross-channel
00:48services by 2030. now eurostar said it was reviewing the ruling and considering its next steps
00:57emphasizing that its priority remained on delivering benefits from recent investments in new trains
01:05jobs and upgraded facilities as well now the orr noted that temple mills had previously been large
01:15enough to support either an expanded eurostar fleet or a competitor as well but not both
01:23added that several hurdles still remain virgin must reach a commercial deal with eurostar to secure
01:31funding and station access and obtain safety approvals from the uk and eu authorities as well
01:40the regulator said the move could unlock 700 million pounds worth of investment and create around 400
01:48new jobs describing it as a win for passengers competition and growth as well virgin founder sir
01:56richard branson said the ruling was a victory for consumers and a long-awaited end to eurostar's
02:03monopoly uh rail minister lord hendy also welcomed the decision here is what richard branson
02:10had to say uh today is a wonderful day we have permission to take on eurostar very very very happy
02:21and we finally got the uh rights to take eurostar on uh between london and paris and other cities in
02:29europe we love taking on uh big incumbents we did it in the airline industry we did in the cruise industry
02:37we've done it in even in space and um uh eurostar have had a monopoly uh of the routes um between
02:46uh london and europe uh for many years now um and i think if we can bring a bit of virgin magic to it
02:53uh and that the customers will benefit
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