The Newshound

Stratford International is 'almost over the line' as Virgin orders 12 trains for second London stop

An Alstom Avelia Stream train of the kind Virgin Group has ordered 12 of, targeting nearly 7.5 million extra cross-Channel seats a year from 2030.
An Alstom Avelia Stream train of the kind Virgin Group has ordered 12 of, targeting nearly 7.5 million extra cross-Channel seats a year from 2030.

Lord Sadiq Khan says plans to make Stratford International a genuine cross-Channel halt are nearly finalised, as Virgin Group signs a deal for 12 Avelia Stream trains with French manufacturer Alstom. Sir Richard Branson's firm is targeting 20 daily return services from 2030 to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, adding nearly 7.5 million seats a year. Rail minister Lord Hendy has been actively pushing for the Stratford stop alongside St Pancras International. Regulator the Office of Rail and Road has already granted Virgin track access for the 2030–2040 period.

City Hall has applied for a Business Rate Retention Zone around Stratford to fund the station upgrades, customs arrangements and infrastructure needed.

Virgin's black-and-red trains will run at up to 300kmh and operate under a 30-year Alstom maintenance contract.

The Stratford stop has long stalled because operators faced shouldering the entire investment risk — Khan now wants the public sector to step in.

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