A third operator seeking to challenge Eurostar’s monopoly on Channel Tunnel services has been announced.

Gemini said on Monday it had submitted an application to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) regulator for access to Eurostar’s Temple Mills depot, which is the only place in the UK to park and maintain high-speed, cross-Channel trains.

Services will initially run between London and Paris/Brussels, but additional destinations are currently in the pipeline.

The company, which is chaired by industry veteran Lord Tony Berkeley, said it had attracted a “highly experienced team of rail executives and creative thinkers” who are committed to bring open access services to the cross-channel route.

Eurostar has held a monopoly on the Channel Tunnel route since its opening in 1994. However, a number of open-access challengers have emerged in recent years, promising competitive fares and more frequent services.

Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and Evolyn, a Spanish firm backed by the largest shareholder of Mobico, have also submitted applications to the ORR.

There are rumoured to be at least five companies interested in the route and the Channel Tunnel’s operator Getlink has said it would like to see spare capacity filled.