Eurostar has suspended all train services leaving London for Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels after a power failure in the Channel Tunnel led to a Le Shuttle train breaking down.
At London’s St Pancras station, staff advised travelers to delay their journeys and rebook for another date as the disruption continues.
By midday, more than a dozen Eurostar services linking the UK with France, Belgium, and the Netherlands had been canceled, with several others running late or operating on altered schedules.
Eurotunnel’s Le Shuttle service has also stopped running trains between Folkestone and Calais after what it described as a “power supply issue” that occurred overnight.
National Rail said passengers should expect widespread disruption to last through the end of the day.
Eurostar said in a statement: “Services to and from London are suspended until further notice due to overhead power supply issues in the Channel Tunnel, followed by a failed Le Shuttle train.
“We advise our customers to re-book their journey for another day, with free exchanges available.
“We apologise for the disruption and will continue to keep customers updated with the latest information.”
Eurostar added that customers can change their travel plans at no extra cost or choose to cancel their booking for a refund or an e-voucher.
Eurotunnel confirmed that the disabled Le Shuttle train has now been removed from the tunnel and said services are expected to restart around 15:00 CET (14:00 GMT).
“Our teams are working to restore the situation as quickly as possible,” Le Shuttle said.
“Waiting times will be adjusted throughout the day. Eurotunnel apologises for the inconvenience and thanks its customers for their patience and understanding.”
Le Shuttle’s website warned that check-in and border control services are facing significant delays.
Passengers have been left stranded on both sides of the Channel. Ben Clark from Bedfordshire told the BBC that he and his wife, along with their three daughters, have been stuck on board a Le Shuttle train in Calais since 10:00 local time (09:00 GMT).
“The first two-and-a-half hours weren’t too bad but the girls have got restless in the last half an hour so we’ve let them run around the boarding carriage to burn off some energy,” he said.
“Some people are getting angry but there’s nothing that can be done, others are sleeping in their cars. We have used up our snacks and now have no plan B or C.”
On the UK side in Folkestone, Le Shuttle said travelers are facing delays of roughly three and a half hours beyond their scheduled departure times.
Matthew Webber from Suffolk told the BBC he has been waiting for hours and still doesn’t know if he and his group will be able to continue their journey.
“Not a lot of information being given out which is poor,” he said.
“Lots of queues and everyone is waiting to get on the Tunnel. The conditions are very busy and people are leaving to get a ferry.”
In Calais, delays are currently estimated at around three hours. Steph Roberts from Ashford, Kent, said she has been stuck at the French terminal since 10:30 with her husband Robert and their bulldog, Dempsey.
After spending two weeks in France visiting family over Christmas, she said the wait has been frustrating.
“We’ve not had any updates or been given any food or water,” she said.
“We’ve just been spending the time going through social media and reading magazines. I’ve also gone out to take the dog for a couple of walks.”
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