Eurostar plans to run a full service Wednesday but warned of possible disruptions following a power supply issue in the Channel Tunnel that halted train trips connecting London to the European mainland.
Eurostar Service Disrupted by Tunnel Issues
Travellers experienced disruptions in the busy period leading up to the new year after Eurostar postponed all services between London, Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels.
“Services have resumed today following a power issue in the Channel tunnel yesterday and some further issues with rail infrastructure overnight,” Eurostar said in a statement. “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.”
The service had previously advised passengers to postpone their journeys, warning of severe delays and potential cancellations. Even services not utilizing the Channel Tunnel, such as those between Paris and Brussels, were cancelled earlier in the day.
In addition to the power problem, a LeShuttle train also experienced a failure within the 50-kilometer (31-mile) undersea rail link between Folkestone, England, and Coquelles, France.
Stranded passengers with luggage were seen at London’s St Pancras International station and Gare du Nord in Paris as their holiday travel plans were affected.
Eurostar carried a record 19.5 million passengers in 2024, a nearly 5% increase from 2023, boosted by demand related to the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris.
Eurostar currently holds a monopoly on passenger services through the Channel Tunnel, which opened in 1994. Virgin and Trenitalia have both expressed intentions to launch competing services in the future.
The disruption comes at a time when Eurostar faces criticism regarding its high fares, particularly on the Paris-London route. Electrical faults caused cancellations and delays in August, and cable theft in northern France caused issues in June.
LeShuttle operates vehicle-carrying trains between Folkestone in south-east England and Calais in northern France.
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