In brief
Services through the Channel Tunnel, including Eurostar and Le Shuttle, resumed after repair work addressed a major disruption caused by a power failure and a breakdown. While most services are running as normal, Eurostar has warned of potential delays and offers compensation to affected passengers.
Eurostar and Le Shuttle services between the UK and France have resumed through the Channel Tunnel after major travel disruption on Tuesday.
Thousands of passengers faced hours of delays after Eurostar cancelled most of its London to Europe services due to an overhead power supply problem and a failed Le Shuttle train which blocked all routes.
Repair work took place overnight, allowing rail services to resume on Wednesday morning.
However, Eurostar urged passengers to check ahead as some knock-on delays and last-minute cancellations might still occur.
By Wednesday morning, most of Eurostar's services had departed from London St Pancras, with only three cancellations reported—one to Paris, one to Brussels, and one to Amsterdam.
Eurostar extended apologies for the inconvenience faced by travelers. The company announced plans to run all scheduled services for the day but warned of possible delays due to the previous disruptions.
Passengers have the option for enhanced compensation, including a full ticket refund and an additional 150% of the ticket price in e-vouchers for travel disruptions.
Le Shuttle services have returned to normal, though delays remain at Calais, significantly down from earlier reported times of up to six hours.
Images circulated on social media show large crowds at London St Pancras International, reflecting the chaos caused by the disruptions, while traffic jams were reported near the Le Shuttle terminal as frustrated travelers sought alternative routes.
One affected passenger, Dennis Van Der Steen, reported a six-hour wait after departing for Amsterdam, leading to a return to London. Meanwhile, another traveler, Floriaen Dullaert, creatively adjusted his travel plans, purchasing a bike in Brussels before taking a ferry to Dover.
Getlink, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, confirmed that work extended overnight to resolve the issues affecting the overhead power supply.
This situation has led to significant frustration and disappointment for those hoping to travel for New Year's Eve, with many resorting to alternative arrangements as train services were largely disrupted.
