Virgin Group wants to launch the new service by the end of the decade, initially running trains from London to Paris and Brussels. View on euronews

Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group is looking to raise £700mn to fund its bid to launch new cross-channel rail services to compete with Eurostar. Virgin Group told the Financial Times that it intends to raise £300mn in equity and £400mn in debt, and that it plans to be a cornerstone equity investor in the project.

(Reuters) - British billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Group aims to raise 700 million pounds ($900 million) to fund its bid to launch cross-channel rail services to compete with Eurostar, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

Virgin Group Seeks 700M to Challenge Eurostar with Cross-Channel Rail Service Virgin Group, led by British billionaire Richard Branson, is aiming to raise 700 million ($900 million) to launch a high-speed rail

Richard Branson 's Virgin Group is aiming to challenge Eurostar 's dominance with a £700 million fundraising effort to launch its own cross-channel rail service. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

Virgin Group intends to raise 300 million pounds in equity and 400 million pounds in debt and plans to be a cornerstone equity investor in the project