Claire Keenan
EPAEurostar travelers are preparing for additional potential disruptions, following a power failure in the Channel Tunnel that created travel disruptions for thousands on Tuesday.
As passengers rushed to reach their destinations in time for New Year’s Eve, some reported being stranded for over six hours on trains overnight due to continued delays.
One individual recounted to the BBC that he boarded the 19:01 train to Paris, yet by 03:00 GMT, he remained on the train at the tunnel’s entrance.
He mentioned that staff informed him there was a “50% chance we head to Paris, 50% chance we return to London”.
“I suppose my New Year’s plan is now in the hands of the tunnel operators,” the 27-year-old Paris resident expressed.
Eurostar announced it aimed to operate all its services on Wednesday but cautioned that some delays and cancellations might persist.
The London to Paris service scheduled for 06:00 GMT has been cancelled.
The issue with the overhead power supply, alongside a malfunctioning LeShuttle train, obstructed all routes on Tuesday, resulting in disruptions for numerous travelers attempting to leave for New Year’s Eve.
Some Eurostar and LeShuttle operations resumed Tuesday evening, but delays persisted, with only one of the tunnel’s two rail lines operational.
Getlink, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, reported that work continued overnight to resolve the power situation.
On Wednesday morning, an update from Eurostar’s website stated: “Services have resumed today following a power disruption in the Channel Tunnel yesterday and some additional issues with rail infrastructure overnight.
“We plan to operate all our services today; however, due to ripple effects, there may still be some delays and potential last-minute cancellations.
“Please check for current updates on your train’s status on the train status and timetables page.”
Dennis van der Steen, from the Netherlands, was heading back home to Amsterdam to celebrate New Year’s Eve with family and friends.
Instead, he reported spending six hours trapped on a Eurostar train before it started moving again around 03:00 GMT.
“We are stuck,” he told the BBC.
He mentioned there was no power on the train when it halted, with some passengers sleeping while others were “also very anxious”. He later learned his train would proceed on its journey.
Another traveler recounted experiencing a “rollercoaster of emotions” for hours, unsure if the train would continue across the Channel or head back to London.
Eventually, his train reached Brussels, adding: “Happy to be home, noticed many families left stranded.”
Pictures of large crowds of travelers stranded at London St Pancras International inundated social media following the power outage on Tuesday.
A photo provided to the BBC by a Eurostar train driver seemingly showed overhead electrical wires lying across the tracks.
In the meantime, cars wishing to use the Channel Tunnel created traffic congestions near the LeShuttle Terminal in Folkestone.
The Channel Tunnel supports Eurostar services along with LeShuttle vehicle-carrying trains connecting the UK and France.
Tim Brown, who had attempted to return to the UK after celebrating Christmas in Germany, told PA News he had been stuck in his vehicle on the LeShuttle train for over three hours with “no access to food or water”.
By midday Tuesday, at least a dozen Eurostar services between the UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands had been cancelled.
The rail operator expressed apologies and informed passengers they could rearrange their plans without charge or cancel their bookings for a refund or an e-voucher.
On Tuesday, Eurostar encouraged its customers “to rebook their journey for another date if feasible, offering free exchanges”.
“We also recommend that customers refrain from visiting our stations if their trains have already been cancelled.”
