Eurostar passengers have described their experience as 'hell' after being stranded for eight hours on a train sweltering in a heatwave. The train departed from Gare du Nord in Paris bound for Amsterdam but stopped near Fresnoy-le-Luat (Oise) at around 7:30pm on Wednesday, June 24, due to a technical problem, according to Le Parisien.
Passengers left without power or air conditioning
The train lost electricity and air conditioning, leaving passengers to wait either on the train or beside the tracks. The delay exceeded eight hours, with many taking to social media to share their ordeal. One passenger posted on X: 'Eurostar, our train from Paris to Brussels is stopped on the tracks, what the hell is going on?'
Eurostar responded, stating: 'A technical incident caused by exceptional heatwave conditions has occurred on board the train.' The incident occurred during a period of extreme heat in France, with temperatures reaching 38°C in some areas.
Emergency services assist stranded passengers
One passenger described the situation as 'hell,' noting that police, firefighters, and civil protection crews arrived to assist the elderly and distribute water. A rail replacement service finally arrived at 12:30am the following day, allowing passengers to continue to Brussels. The original arrival time in Brussels was scheduled for 7:47pm Wednesday. Other passengers continued to Amsterdam by bus or taxi.
Amar Chaabi, Eurostar’s Chief Operating Officer, said: 'We fully understand what our passengers experienced last night and offer them our sincerest apologies. The safety of our customers guided every decision taken throughout this incident. I would like to commend the exemplary efforts of our teams, SNCF Réseau, Infrabel, and the emergency services in assisting passengers to their destinations. We will analyze this incident in detail to learn all the lessons and continue to improve our customer service.'
