Eurostar Halts All Services Between London and European Cities

Eurostar has announced the suspension of all train services between London and key European cities including Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. This decision comes after a power failure in the Channel Tunnel, which also caused a Le Shuttle train to break down. The incident has resulted in widespread disruption during a peak travel period, as many people were planning to travel for New Year celebrations.

At St Pancras International Station in London, staff are advising passengers to postpone their journeys and rebook for dates later in the week. By midday, numerous Eurostar services had been cancelled, and many others faced significant delays or were rerouted. The disruption has affected one of Europe’s busiest travel corridors, particularly during the festive season when many people travel across borders.

In addition to Eurostar, the Eurotunnel's Le Shuttle service, which transports vehicles between Folkestone in the UK and Calais in France, has also been halted due to the same power supply issues. National Rail has indicated that the severe disruption is likely to persist throughout the day.

In a statement, Eurostar confirmed that services from London are suspended indefinitely due to overhead power supply problems in the Channel Tunnel, compounded by the failure of a Le Shuttle train. The company has advised affected passengers that they can change their travel plans without incurring additional costs or opt for a full refund or an e-voucher if they prefer to cancel.

Eurotunnel has stated that the faulty Le Shuttle train has now been removed from the tunnel, and they expect operations to resume by around 15:00 Central European Time (14:00 GMT). However, the company warned that waiting times may vary throughout the day. “Our teams are working to restore the situation as quickly as possible,” Le Shuttle said in an official statement, also expressing gratitude to customers for their patience during this time.

Travellers departing from Folkestone are currently facing delays of approximately three and a half hours beyond their scheduled departure times, while at the Calais terminal, waiting times are reported to be around three hours. One passenger stranded at the Calais terminal expressed frustration over the lack of information and support from the operators. “We’ve not had any updates or been given any food or water. We’ve just been spending the time going through social media and reading magazines,” she said.

A Eurostar spokesperson indicated that the timeline for the resumption of services remains unclear, and they did not provide details on the number of passengers affected by the disruption. The company’s website cautioned travellers to prepare for severe delays. “Due to an issue with the overhead power supply in the Channel Tunnel, we strongly advise passengers to reschedule their journeys for a later date,” the site stated.

The Eurotunnel infrastructure, which supports both Eurostar and Le Shuttle services, has not yet released a statement regarding the ongoing situation. Eurostar reported carrying 19.5 million passengers in 2024, marking its busiest year to date. This incident highlights the vulnerability of international rail services to technical issues, particularly during high-demand periods such as the winter holiday season.