Why were Eurostar trains suspended across Europe?
London: Eurostar suspended all train services across Europe on Tuesday after a power supply failure in the Channel Tunnel, triggering widespread travel disruption during the peak New Year holiday period.
The operator halted services connecting London with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam after what it described as a serious technical fault affecting tunnel operations.
“Due to a problem with the overhead power supply and a subsequent failed Le Shuttle train the Channel tunnel is currently closed,” Eurostar said in a message posted on its website.
“Unfortunately, this means we have no choice but to suspend all services today until further notice.
“Please do not come to the station. We're very sorry for the impact the situation may have on your travel plans,” it added.
Eurostar’s online schedules showed that even continental services not passing through the Channel Tunnel, including routes between Paris and Brussels, were cancelled, compounding the disruption.
Passengers were left stranded at major terminals, including London’s St Pancras International and Paris’s Gare du Nord, as the suspensions were announced. Many travellers scrambled to find alternative transport options amid sold-out flights and limited availability.
“I’m disappointed. We were going to do New Year’s Eve in Paris,” said Jessica, a 21-year-old business coordinator travelling with friends from London. “We are going to see if we can find another ticket. Otherwise, we will stay in London.”
Another passenger, Jodie, who had accommodation booked in Paris with her family, said the disruption had upended their holiday plans. “We can’t find tickets for tomorrow. It has disrupted all our holiday. We are looking for alternative routes,” the 37-year-old told AFP.
The Channel Tunnel operator Getlink said train traffic would begin to resume gradually later on Tuesday, though uncertainty remained for passengers waiting for confirmed departures.
One traveller, Sophie Gontowicz, attempting to return to Paris after a short holiday in London, said she was taking the situation “philosophically”.
“In the end, it gives us an extra day of vacation,” she said.
Others were less optimistic. “We tried to book another one, but everything is sold out. Now we’re looking at every option: plane, car, but even flying is difficult,” said Chaitan Patel, a 46-year-old American stranded in Paris.
Earlier in the day, Eurostar had warned of “major disruption” due to the power problem in the tunnel and the failure of a Le Shuttle train, urging passengers not to travel unless they already held tickets.
The disruption comes at a time of exceptionally high demand for Eurostar services. The operator carried a record 19.5 million passengers last year, driven partly by travel linked to the Paris Olympics and Paralympics.
Eurostar has faced repeated operational challenges in recent months. An electrical fault caused widespread cancellations in August, while cable theft in northern France disrupted services for two days in June.
Le Shuttle operates vehicle-carrying trains between Folkestone in southeast England and Calais in northern France.