Travellers hoping to cross the Channel faced severe disruption and widespread cancellations on Monday after a major technical incident brought Eurostar services to a halt.
Power Supply Problem Halts Channel Traffic
The chaos began following what was described as a "major disruption" linked to the overhead power supply within the Channel Tunnel. Eurostar confirmed that a problem with the electricity infrastructure, combined with a separate failed LeShuttle train, caused significant delays and the eventual cancellation of all services departing from London's St Pancras International.
The operator of the Channel Tunnel stated that an incident related to the power supply to trains occurred on Sunday night, affecting both train and shuttle traffic. This necessitated a technical intervention, which was still underway throughout Monday.
Gradual Resumption of Services Expected
In an afternoon update, Eurotunnel announced that traffic was expected to "gradually resume" from around 14:00 GMT (15:00 CET). The company's statement read: "The service is temporarily suspended in both directions. Our teams are working to restore the situation as quickly as possible. Waiting times will be adjusted throughout the day."
This left hundreds of passengers stranded at St Pancras, with long queues forming as people sought information and alternative travel arrangements.
Alternative Travel Options Offered
With the tunnel closed, other transport providers stepped in to assist affected travellers. The Port of Dover alerted the public that ferry operators on the Dover to Calais route still had capacity for extra passengers.
Meanwhile, LNER, the main rail operator on the East Coast Main Line, issued support for those impacted. A spokesperson said any customers who had to abandon their journey at London King's Cross could return to their home station on the next available LNER service at no extra cost. The train company also confirmed that customers who chose to defer their travel to another day could use their ticket on their new chosen date.
The disruption serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of cross-Channel transport links, with a single technical fault capable of causing travel chaos for thousands during the busy festive period.
