Eurostar said all its cross-Channel train services have resumed on Wednesday after a power supply failure in the Channel Tunnel on Tuesday stopped trains between London and mainland Europe, though the operator warned passengers to expect delays and possible last-minute cancellations as schedules stabilise.
Travellers trying to cross between London and mainland Europe in the run-up to the New Year were left scrambling on Tuesday after all Eurostar services linking the UK capital with Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels were postponed.
Eurostar said services had restarted but warned that problems could continue.
“Services have resumed today following a power issue in the Channel Tunnel yesterday and some further issues with rail infrastructure overnight,” the operator said.
“We plan to run all of our services today, however due to knock-on impacts there may still be some delays and possible last-minute cancellations.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Eurostar advised customers to postpone their journeys, warning of severe delays and the risk of last-minute cancellations.
Eurostar trains cancelled after World War II bomb found near Paris Gare du Nord
Crowds stranded
Eurostar’s booking site showed that some services on the continent not using the Channel Tunnel, including trains between Paris and Brussels, were also cancelled during the day.
Alongside the power supply problem, a failed LeShuttle train in the tunnel added to the disruption. The tunnel is the 50-kilometre undersea rail link between Folkestone in southeast England and Coquelles in northern France.
As the scale of the disruption became clear, crowds of stranded passengers, many hauling suitcases, built up at St Pancras International in London and at Gare du Nord in Paris. For many, end-of-year holiday plans were thrown into doubt.
“I’m disappointed. We were going to do New Year’s Eve in Paris,” said Jessica, a 21-year-old business coordinator travelling with three friends. “We are going to see if we can find another ticket. Otherwise we will stay in London.”
Eurostar named Europe's worst rail service while Italy's Trenitalia leads the way
Rising pressure
The disruption comes at a time of high demand for Eurostar. A record 19.5 million passengers travelled with the operator last year, up nearly 5 percent on 2023, boosted by visitors attending the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris.
Eurostar has held a monopoly on passenger services through the Channel Tunnel since it opened in 1994, but competition could be coming.
British entrepreneur Richard Branson has vowed to launch a rival service, while Italy’s Trenitalia has said it plans to compete on the Paris–London route by 2029.
Tuesday’s disruption is the latest in a series of incidents that have focused attention on Eurostar’s reliability and pricing, particularly on the Paris-London line.
An electrical fault forced widespread cancellations and delays in August, while cable thefts on tracks in northern France caused two days of disruption in June.
LeShuttle, which operates vehicle-carrying trains between Folkestone and Calais, said its services were also affected by the tunnel incident.
(with newswires)
