Thousands of Eurostar passengers faced severe travel disruptions on New Year’s Eve following a major power outage in the Channel Tunnel that crippled cross-channel transportation services. The incident, occurring on Tuesday, resulted in extensive cancellations and delays that continued into Wednesday, leaving travelers stranded during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
The crisis began when overhead power supply issues combined with a broken-down LeShuttle train, effectively blocking all routes through the tunnel. Eurostar services between the UK, France, Belgium, and Netherlands were severely impacted, with at least a dozen trains cancelled by midday Tuesday. Social media platforms were flooded with images of massive crowds stranded at London’s St Pancras International station as the transportation network ground to a halt.
Passengers endured harrowing experiences aboard immobilized trains, with some reporting being stuck for over six hours without power or clear communication. Dennis van der Steen, a Dutch passenger attempting to return home for New Year’s celebrations, described spending six hours trapped onboard before movement resumed around 03:00 GMT. ‘We’re stuck,’ he told the BBC, noting that while some passengers slept, others were ‘very worried.’
Another traveler aboard the 19:01 service to Paris remained stationary at the tunnel entrance until the early hours, with staff informing him of a ‘50% chance we go to Paris, 50% chance we go back to London.’ The Parisian passenger lamented, ‘I guess my new year plan is in the hands of the tunnel operators now.’
Getlink, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, worked through the night to address the power issues, eventually restoring partial service with only one of the tunnel’s two rail lines operational. By Wednesday morning, Eurostar announced plans to run all services but warned of ongoing ‘knock-on impacts’ including possible last-minute cancellations and delays.
The disruption extended beyond rail passengers, with cars backed up for hours near the LeShuttle Terminal in Folkestone. Tim Brown, returning to the UK after Christmas in Germany, reported being stuck in his car on a LeShuttle train for over three hours with ‘no access to food or water.’
Eurostar has offered affected passengers free rebooking options, refunds, or e-vouchers, while urging travelers to avoid stations if their trains had been cancelled. The company continues to advise customers to check live updates regarding their specific travel arrangements as the situation evolves.