Eurostar chaos as hundreds evacuated after train becomes STUCK in tunnel with passengers facing six-hour delays
HUNDREDS have been hit with Eurostar travel chaos today as passengers were warned of SIX hour delays.
Holidaymakers were in shock when their London to Paris train was trapped in the Channel Tunnel for two-and-a-half hours this morning.
The first train of the day from London St Pancras International left as scheduled at 6.01am.
It was due to arrive at Paris Gare du Nord at 9.20am but it broke down in the Channel Tunnel.
No air, no updates. Thanks for ruining our vacation
Frustrated passenger
The estimated time for arrival was 3.20pm local time – meaning passengers would be delayed six hours.
A fresh update on the Eurostar timetable has now bumped this forward by and hour to 2.20pm.
Holidaymakers travelling to Paris for day trips slammed the company and dubbed their bookings “a waste”.
Confused and furious passengers also complained of being trapped in “very stuffy” carriages, while others dubbed the nightmare ordeal “truly appalling”.
One slammed the delays and cried “thanks for ruining our vacation”.
Gaby Koppel, a television producer, told The Independent: “We stopped in the tunnel about an hour into the journey, so roughly 7am UK time.
“Eventually they said at 9am that we would get going ‘in 20 minutes’ but we are still here.
“Some of the lighting in the carriage has been switched down, but it has become very stuffy in the carriage.”
At 9.30am the train was back up and running, but at a restricted speed.
Passengers were transported to Calais Fréthun station to wait while a replacement train is sourced.
Traffic experts at Inrix expect knock on delays of about four and a half hours.
At London St Pancras, arrivals from Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam are running from 30 to 70 minutes behind schedule.
Fuming travellers have vented their frustrations on social media.
There has also been disruption in Folkestone, Kent, as bumper to bumper traffic continues to build up ahead of boarding lanes.
This was a day trip to Paris and we will lose more than half our day already. The entire booking was a waste!
Fuming holidaymaker
One disgruntled ticket holder penned on X: “So apparently there is a Eurotunnel train stuck in a tunnel and service is constrained to a single lane running.
“Boarding lanes are full, the car park is full and so there are no admissions through check-in.”
He added: “Why is there no detailed information being posted here or online?
“I’m three cars back from the check-in barrier and there’s no information flowing anywhere.
“Truly appalling.”
Meanwhile a Eurostar passenger added: “I’ve been stuck in the Channel for more than an hour.
“No air, no updates. Thanks for ruining our vacation.”
A fellow holidaymaker shared: “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 out entire day in Paris. Do better Eurostar. Communicate with your paying customers.”
“Delay on Eurostar of 45 minutes, so pre-booked seats are invalid,” another added.
“New boarding passes with no numbered seats, looks like it will be a free-for-all. Crowded and airless in the departure lounge. Very disappointed.”
Someone else wrote:: “It’s a LOT more than an inconvenience. This was a day trip to Paris and we will lose more than half our day already.
“The entire booking was a waste!”
“We have yet to receive any actual updates. This is extremely frustrating,” agreed another.
A spokesperson for operator Eurostar said on X: “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.”
In an update they added: “The 6.01am Eurostar service from London to Paris experienced a technical issue this morning while travelling through the Channel Tunnel.
“Once safety investigations were completed, the train ran at reduced speed to Calais where customers were transferred to another Eurostar train, and are now continuing their journey to Paris.
“During the Calais transfer, customers were offered hot drinks and water.
“The safety and wellbeing of our customers is always our priority. We’re really sorry for the inconvenience and delay to their journey today.
“As a result of the incident this morning, Eurostar services to and from Paris are experiencing delays of up to an hour.”
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