Passengers traveling on Eurostar trains were left stuck in the tunnel for hours due to a power outage causing significant delays. Many took to social media to express their frustration, with reports of trains not moving for up to four hours in the Channel Tunnel.
Eurostar advised passengers to postpone their journeys due to ongoing issues with the overhead power supply, impacting services to and from Folkestone and St Pancras International. Stranded travelers were offered ferry tickets as they sought alternative ways to reach their destinations.
One passenger, Ruby Sleigh, shared her disappointment after her Eurostar train to Brussels was canceled, disrupting her plans to spend New Year’s Eve with her partner. Despite the challenges, Eurostar has begun to resume services after the Channel Tunnel partially reopened, although delays and cancellations are still expected.
Passengers affected by the disruptions were presented with options by Eurostar, including exchanging bookings for free, claiming an e-voucher, or requesting a refund. Meanwhile, EasyJet announced additional seating capacity on flights between Luton and Gatwick to Paris to accommodate impacted travelers.
The Port of Dover reported extra ferry capacity between Dover and Calais as an alternative for those affected by the train suspensions. Eurostar has officially suspended all services between the UK, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium until further notice, urging passengers to check for live updates on their train statuses.
The situation caused chaos at train stations, with stranded passengers expressing frustration over the lack of direct communication from Eurostar. As the disruptions continued, National Rail advised passengers to cancel their journeys, citing the likelihood of severe delays and last-minute cancellations. Despite the challenges, efforts are underway to restore normal operations and minimize the impact on affected travelers.