Eurostar passengers are bracing for a second day of potential travel chaos, after a major power outage in the Channel Tunnel caused severe disruption for thousands on New Year’s Eve.
The crisis began on Tuesday when a problem with the overhead power supply and a broken-down LeShuttle train blocked both lines in the tunnel. While one line reopened in the evening, allowing some Eurostar and LeShuttle services to resume, lengthy delays and cancellations continued throughout the night.
Some travelers endured an overnight ordeal, stranded for hours onboard stationary trains. One passenger on the 19:01 service to Paris told the BBC that at 02:30 GMT he was still stuck near the tunnel entrance, with staff offering only a “50% chance we go to Paris, 50% chance we go back to London.”
Operator Getlink said crews worked through the night to fix the power issue, hoping to return to normal service overnight.
Eurostar had earlier urged customers with cancelled trains not to come to stations and to rebook their journeys for another day free of charge.
By midday Tuesday, at least a dozen international services between the UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands had been cancelled.
The rail operator apologized and offered passengers free rebooking, refunds, or e-vouchers. Despite this, many were left scrambling for alternatives.
American tourists Haley Adams, 38, and Hannah Hagar, 35, spent an extra $580 (£430) on flights to Paris after their Eurostar from London St Pancras was cancelled.
They had their train tickets refunded but face additional costs for an extra night in a London hotel and a non-refundable hotel booking in Paris.
“There’s been a lot of queuing,” Adams said after five hours at the station. “We just wanted to get there for Hannah’s birthday.”
Passengers are now awaiting updates on whether Wednesday’s services will run as planned.
By James Kisoo
