Virgin secured pre-approval from UK regulator ORR for Channel Tunnel track access, planning 20 daily services to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam from 2030, breaking Eurostar's monopoly since 1994. This could lower fares and promote air-to-rail shift, but analysts note ~36% of traffic is connecting passengers who must still fly. Virgin's edge includes its Virgin Red loyalty ecosystem and secured access to Temple Mills depot.
Berlin-based startup Nox Mobility raised €2 million in pre-seed funding to develop a private-cabin overnight rail model in Europe. The round was led by IBB Ventures, with participation from investor Tommaso Lucca and HomeToGo co-founder Patrick Andrae. Funds will grow the team, build a full-scale mock-up, and prepare for first routes launching in 2027. The company notes European night trains declined from ~1,200 per week in 2001 to 450 in 2019. Its model offers private rooms instead of shared compartments, targeting leisure and business travelers; business travelers already account for 30% of night train users in France.