Eurostar Passengers Face Second Day of Major Travel Disruption
Eurostar passengers travelling between the UK and Europe have faced widespread chaos and severe delays for a second consecutive day. The disruption, affecting thousands of travellers on key routes connecting London with Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, was initially caused by tragic incidents and significantly worsened by a theft of vital railway cables in France.
While railway line repairs are now complete and services have resumed, Eurostar warns that knock-on delays are expected to persist throughout the day, urging passengers to consider postponing their journeys.
A Double Blow on French Rail Lines
The significant disruption began on Tuesday afternoon following two separate fatal incidents on the LGV Nord high-speed line in France, located between Lille and Paris. These tragic events forced the closure of the line for much of the evening, leading to cancellations on Paris-bound routes and delays for trains operating between London, Brussels, and Amsterdam. This initial disruption affected an estimated 10,000 people and left trains and crew out of position, causing knock-on effects that continued into Wednesday.
However, the situation dramatically escalated overnight into Wednesday morning. Approximately 600 metres of copper cable were stolen near Lille on the same critical LGV Nord line. This act of theft forced trains to be rerouted onto alternative tracks, leading to extended journey times and compounding the existing disruption. Eurostar reported that the cable theft directly resulted in cancellations for over 5,000 passengers scheduled to travel on Wednesday alone, in addition to the delays.
Eurostar’s Response Amidst Ongoing Disruption
Eurostar confirmed that technicians from the French railway company worked quickly, completing repairs to the damaged cables by mid-afternoon on Wednesday. The line has since reopened, allowing trains to operate.
Despite the completed repairs, the rail operator advised passengers that severe delays were still anticipated until the end of Wednesday. In light of the widespread issues, Eurostar strongly recommended that customers travelling on Wednesday postpone their trips if possible.
Passengers impacted by the delays or cancellations are being offered the option to change their travel plans free of charge or request a full refund. Eurostar issued an apology for the considerable impact on customers, stating their teams were working closely with French authorities to manage the situation and safely restore services. They also mentioned providing support at stations and distributing water to passengers on delayed trains, though some passenger accounts suggested inconsistencies with provision and communication.
For those whose journeys were delayed by over 60 minutes, Eurostar has confirmed that compensation claims are applicable.
Scenes of Chaos and Passenger Frustration
The combined incidents led to scenes of significant frustration and “total chaos,” particularly at major hubs like London’s St Pancras International station. Hundreds of people were pictured and reported queuing for hours, especially at service centres, attempting to rebook or get information. Passengers described overcrowded conditions, a lack of seating forcing people to sit on the floor, and difficulties obtaining clear updates from staff.
Travellers shared frustrating and costly experiences. One passenger at St Pancras described the situation as “very chaotic,” highlighting the long queues and perceived lack of information. Another family whose train to Paris was cancelled reported losing around £700 in non-refundable hotel and connecting train costs after being rerouted to Brussels. Anecdotes also included a disabled passenger reportedly having to sleep on the floor of Gare du Nord in Paris after their train was cancelled, and travellers missing important events like Glastonbury Festival or having their holiday plans ruined. Some reports highlighted issues with communication both on delayed trains and at stations, and difficulties using Eurostar’s website to process claims.
While trains are now running, the aftermath of the double disruption means residual delays are likely to continue impacting journeys until the end of Wednesday, as services work to return to their normal schedule following the widespread cancellations and rerouting.
