Amsterdam-bound Eurostar train leaves 700 passengers stranded with no power or toilets after breaking down in Kent
One passenger says they had only been offered one item of food after the train had been stationary for "four or five" hours, adding he had been "pacing" himself because the toilets were out of action.
Thursday 30 November 2023 19:09, UK
About 700 passengers on board a Eurostar train have been left without toilets or electricity after it broke down in Kent.
A service bound for Amsterdam left London St Pancras at 8.16am, but broke down 30 minutes later close to the entrance of the Channel Tunnel.
The continental rail service said it was caused by an overhead cable falling on the train.
Passengers reported they were without power and toilets while they were stopped.
In a statement, Eurostar said: "There are around 700 passengers and crew on board. They are confirmed to be safe.
"Following a complicated situation due to the position of the train and the track infrastructure, it's meant that certain safety procedures had to be adhered to before we could move the train."
The company added the train was being taken back to London and all those on board would be given refreshments and enhanced compensation once they returned.
"Eurostar are sorry for issues caused that customers have experienced today," it added.
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Ben Williams, who was on the train, told The Independent: "I think the staff are all very stressed themselves, and I don't think they're being kept very well up-to-date.
"We were offered one free food item, that was after we'd been stationary for about four or five hours.
"By that point, I'd already bought myself a sandwich, having been stationary for a couple of hours.
"To be honest, I've been pacing myself just because, obviously, the toilets aren't functioning."
Some passengers used social media to complain about a lack of information, while others reported toilets had overflowed on the service.