Competition for Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel to continental Europe has come a lot closer.
The biggest roadblock has now been cleared by Virgin Trains as they have now got a 5 year agreement to use the same depot as Eurostar near Hackney in East London for storage and light maintenance of their trains - a place called Temple Mills International...
BBC story - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8v5z15551o
Industry newsletter - https://railuk.com/depot/rail-regulator-opens-door-to-future-international-train-services-with-temple-mills-access-approval-for-virgin-trains/
Watch this space and we'll see what happens. There have been dozens of false starts but this looks like it is building a head of steam.