Tunnel Breakdown Causes Travel Chaos
Eurostar and Le Shuttle services between the UK and France are back to normal after a major Channel Tunnel disruption.
On Tuesday, thousands of passengers faced long delays after a power supply fault and a broken Le Shuttle train blocked all routes. Most Eurostar trains from London to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam were cancelled, leaving large crowds stranded at London St Pancras.
Overnight Repairs Restore Services
Engineers worked through the night to fix the problem. By Wednesday morning, trains in both directions were running again. Most services from London St Pancras departed on time, though a few cancellations were still reported.
Passengers Advised to Check Updates
Eurostar warned that some delays and last-minute cancellations could still happen due to earlier disruptions. Travelers were advised to check live updates before leaving for the station.
The company apologized for the inconvenience caused.
Compensation Offered to Affected Travelers
Passengers affected by the disruption can get full ticket refunds. Eurostar is also offering vouchers worth 150% of the ticket price. An extra London to Paris service was added to help manage demand.
Le Shuttle Services Improve
Le Shuttle services from Folkestone are now running normally. Delays at Calais remain around one hour, a significant improvement from earlier six-hour waits.
New Year Travel Disrupted
The disruption hit travelers during the busy New Year period. Some passengers were stuck on trains overnight, while others found creative ways to reach their destinations, including using ferries or alternative train routes.
Getlink, which operates the Channel Tunnel, confirmed the power issue has been fully repaired and that normal operations have resumed.
