Cross-Channel travel has been thrown into chaos after a major power supply failure in the Channel Tunnel forced the suspension of all Eurostar passenger and LeShuttle vehicle services.
Complete Suspension of Services
A Eurostar spokesperson confirmed that all services to and from London's St Pancras International have been halted until further notice. The operator has declined to give any estimate for when trains might resume, advising all passengers to postpone their journeys. The disruption stems from a dual problem: an issue with the tunnel's overhead power supply and a subsequent failure of a LeShuttle train, which carries cars and freight vehicles.
In a stark warning on its website, Eurostar stated: “Due to a problem with the overhead power supply in the Channel tunnel and a subsequent failed LeShuttle train, we strongly advise all our passengers to postpone their journey to a different date. Please don’t come to the station unless you already have a ticket to travel.”
Severe Delays and Passenger Impact
The disruption is causing significant knock-on effects. At St Pancras International and Paris's Gare du Nord, stranded passengers waited with their luggage, with no immediate alternative. The operator's live updates showed severe delays, with the 7.01am service from London to Paris running approximately four hours late. All other services were listed as either cancelled or delayed.
For vehicle traffic, long queues of cars and lorries formed at Folkestone, the UK terminal for LeShuttle. The operator warned customers to expect “severe delays” and stated it was working to resolve the overhead power supply issue.
Alternative Travel Options
With the vital Channel Tunnel link severed, passengers and drivers were forced to seek other routes. The Port of Dover reported that ferry operators running between Dover and Calais had capacity for extra passengers. Meanwhile, in a gesture of goodwill, the east coast mainline operator LNER said that any customers who had to abandon a connecting Eurostar journey at London King's Cross could return to their home station on the next available LNER service at no extra cost.
The timing is particularly problematic, as the Channel tunnel typically carries tens of thousands of passengers and vehicles daily during the busy Christmas travel season. The incident highlights the fragility of this critical piece of transport infrastructure and the widespread disruption caused when it fails.
