Power Outage in Channel Tunnel Causes Major Disruptions to Eurostar Services
A power outage in the Channel Tunnel combined with a LeShuttle breakdown on Tuesday blocked all routes and led to the cancellation of at least a dozen Eurostar services by midday.
Passengers endured long delays overnight, including a 19:01 service to Paris that was halted at the tunnel entrance as of 03:00 GMT, disrupting many New Year's Eve plans.
Eurostar planned to run all services on Wednesday but warned travelers of possible delays and cancellations, including the cancellation of the 06:00 London–Paris train.
Getlink, the Channel Tunnel operator, stated that work continued overnight to resolve the power issue. By Wednesday morning, services had resumed, though knock-on delays were still possible, and passengers were advised to check live service updates before traveling.
Individual reports described passengers experiencing extended hours on board, such as a Dutch passenger who spent about six hours on the train before reaching Brussels. Scenes at London St Pancras station were described as crowded, with passengers coping with sleep deprivation and worry.
Eurostar offered affected passengers free exchanges, refunds, or e-vouchers. Travelers were encouraged to rebook at no extra cost or cancel their trips. Moreover, those whose trains were canceled were advised not to travel to the stations unnecessarily.
