Eurostar passengers are braced for more possible disruption after a power outage in the Channel Tunnel caused travel chaos for thousands of people on Tuesday.
As travelers scrambled to reach New Year's Eve celebrations, some reported being trapped onboard trains for over six hours due to ongoing delays.
One traveler recounted joining the 19:01 service to Paris, only to be stranded at the tunnel entrance until 03:00 GMT. He stated staff indicated there was a 50% chance we go to Paris, 50% chance we go back to London.
I guess my New Year plan is in the hands of the tunnel operators now, speculated the 27-year-old Parisian.
Eurostar originally planned to operate all its services Wednesday but warned of lingering delays and cancellations. The 06:00 GMT service from London to Paris has already been cancelled.
The disruption stemmed from issues with the overhead power supply and a malfunctioning LeShuttle train, blocking all routes on Tuesday and affecting thousands aiming to celebrate New Year's Eve.
By Tuesday evening, some Eurostar and LeShuttle services had been restored but delays continued, as only one of the tunnel's two rail lines remained operational.
Getlink, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, confirmed that technicians worked throughout the night to resolve the power issue, and planned to resume services on Wednesday morning.
An update on Eurostar's website noted: Services have resumed today following a power issue in the Channel Tunnel yesterday and additional rail infrastructure problems overnight. However, previous disruptions may cause lingering delays and last-minute cancellations.
Dennis van der Steen from the Netherlands faced a similar plight heading to Amsterdam for New Year's Eve celebrations—he too was stuck on a train for six hours. He described the experience saying there was no power, with some passengers sleeping while others expressed worries.
The Eurostar situation resulted in images of large crowds at London St Pancras International circulating on social media, showcasing the scale of chaos experienced by travelers. A train driver reported seeing overhead electrical cables lying on the tracks that contributed to the issues.
Tim Brown, attempting to return to the UK from Germany, revealed he had been trapped in his LeShuttle car for over three hours without access to food or water.
By midday on Tuesday, at least a dozen Eurostar services connecting the UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands had been cancelled. In response to the upheaval, Eurostar apologized and allowed passengers to rearrange their travel at no extra cost or cancel their bookings for a refund or e-voucher.
Eurostar encouraged passengers to rebook if possible and advised against visiting stations for cancelled services.
