Amsterdam is set to gain a second high-speed rail link to London, after British rail operator Virgin said it aimed to run services through the channel tunnel from 2030. It marks the first time in more than 30 years that Eurostar will face competition on the route.

Virgin, owned by billionaire Richard Branson, has been granted access to a key maintenance depot in east London, which paves the way for a rival service connecting London with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.

Since the channel tunnel opened in 1994, Eurostar has held a monopoly on fast passenger services between Britain and mainland Europe and will run five direct services a day between London and Amsterdam from next month.

Branson said Virgin was ready to “shake up” cross-channel travel. “Passengers will soon have more choice and better service,” he said.