Eurostar Delays Hit Second Day After Channel Tunnel Power Outage Strands Passengers Overnight
December 31, 2025
Eurostar delays entered a second day after a power outage struck the Channel Tunnel on Tuesday. Thousands of passengers faced chaos trying to reach New Year's Eve events. Some spent over six hours stuck on trains. One passenger on the 19:01 service to Paris said at 03:00 GMT he was still inside the tunnel. Staff told him there was a "50% chance we go to Paris, 50% chance we go back to London." He added, "I guess my new year plan is in the hands of the tunnel operators now." Eurostar plans to run all services on Wednesday but warned of delays and cancellations. The London to Paris train scheduled for 06:00 GMT was cancelled. The outage was caused by a problem with the overhead power supply and a broken-down LeShuttle train blocking all routes. Only one of the two rail lines in the tunnel was open on Tuesday evening. Getlink, the tunnel operator, worked overnight to fix the power problem. Eurostar's website on Wednesday said services resumed but warned of knock-on effects causing potential delays and last-minute cancellations. Passengers like Dennis van der Steen from the Netherlands spent six hours stuck with no power onboard before the train started moving at 03:00 GMT. Emotions ran high as some passengers slept and others worried. Another passenger called it a "rollercoaster of emotions," finally reaching Brussels after many hours. Social media showed crowds stranded at London St Pancras International. Photos revealed damaged overhead electrical cables. Traffic jams also built up near the LeShuttle Terminal as cars waited to enter the tunnel. Tim Brown, stuck in his car on the LeShuttle for over three hours, described having "no access to food or water." By midday Tuesday, Eurostar cancelled at least twelve services across the UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Eurostar apologized and allowed free rebooking, cancellations with refunds, or vouchers. The company urged passengers not to come to stations if their trains were cancelled and to reschedule travel if possible.
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Tags:
Eurostar
Channel Tunnel
Power outage
Travel Disruption
New Year's Eve
Train delays
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