Eurostar passengers 'trapped for hours' in Channel Tunnel after train breaks down between London and Paris
A Eurostar train was hit by a "technical problem" in the Channel Tunnel, causing a six-hour delay to passengers travelling from London to Paris.
Friday 27 December 2024 13:46, UK
Passengers on a Eurostar train from London to Paris say they were stuck for hours in the Channel Tunnel after a train broke down.
The 06.01am train left on time and was supposed to arrive at Paris Gare du Nord at 9.20am local time - but travellers were told they would get to Paris with a delay of about six hours.
Eurostar said on its live departures and arrivals page: "Due to a technical problem, your train cannot complete its journey. It will now terminate at Calais Frethun where you'll be transferred onto another train to your destination."
Lisa Levine posted on X: "What a mess. We were trapped for hours and hours in a tunnel. No idea of when we were go get out. Now transferred to another train and literally missing our entire day in Paris.
"Do better Eurostar. Communicate with your paying customers."
Gaby Koppel, a television producer, : "We stopped in the tunnel about an hour into the journey, so roughly 7am UK time.
"There were occasional loudspeaker announcements saying they did not know what the fault was."
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Alicia Peters, an operations supervisor, was on the train taking her daughter to Disneyland Paris.
She told The Independent: "Sitting for 2.5 hours on a stationary train with my eight-year-old daughter was very stressful.
"She was very worried as we heard a noise and then there was no power.
"It was very hot and we didn't really know when we would be moving as they were unable to provide any timeframe."
In a post on X the rail company said: "Service update: Train 9080 had a technical issue this morning.
"This train is now running at reduced speed to Calais where passengers will be transferred to another Eurostar train to continue their journey to Paris. Thank you for your understanding and our apologies for the delay."
X users reported long queues on the motorway to the Channel Tunnel following the train breakdown.