Due to a power outage in the Channel Tunnel, all Eurostar train services between Britain and the continent were halted on Tuesday morning. The operator plans a gradual resumption overnight into Wednesday, with delays expected. Affected passengers can rebook or get refunds for their tickets.
The Eurotunnel, connecting Britain to the European mainland since 1994, experienced a complete halt in train services on Tuesday. The cause was an overhead line issue that stopped a shuttle train in the tunnel, as stated by an Eurostar spokesperson: “There was a problem with the power supply of the Channel Tunnel, causing a shuttle train to stop in the tunnel.” All connections between London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels were temporarily suspended, stranding hundreds of passengers at London's St. Pancras and Paris's Gare du Nord stations.
Operators Getlink and Eurostar announced that services will resume alternately in both directions. “Since currently only one track in the tunnel is available for operation, delays and extended travel times are to be expected even after resumption,” read an Eurostar statement. Repair work is set to finish overnight, and Le Shuttle plans a gradual restart in the afternoon. Two years ago, the tunnel faced similar disruptions around the same time due to flooding.
Eurostar advised passengers to postpone trips and offered free rebookings, cancellations with refunds or vouchers. Accommodation costs will also be reimbursed. Many New Year's plans were disrupted; the BBC reported failed attempts to secure alternative flights. The 50-kilometer tunnel, the world's longest undersea tunnel, consists of three tubes and is used by car shuttles as well.
Looking ahead, Eurostar plans expansions: direct links from London to Frankfurt and Geneva, plus new double-decker trains from Alstom starting in 2031 with 540 seats, aiming for 30 million passengers annually by the end of the decade.
