Some Channel Tunnel services resume after power failure

Some cross-Channel rail services are resuming after an earlier power failure saw the Channel Tunnel closed and Eurostar cancel all of its London to Europe services for the day.

A problem with the overhead power supply and a failed train blocked all traffic today, causing travel chaos for thousands trying to get away to celebrate the new year.

LeShuttle is also affected, but the operator said its services between Folkestone and Calais were resuming while warning of six-hour delays at the Folkestone terminal.

The tunnel accommodates Eurostar services as well as LeShuttle vehicle-carrying trains between the UK and France.

In an update, Getlink, which operates the Channel Tunnel, said traffic was expected to resume gradually for LeShuttle passengers from around 2pm.

"An incident related to the power supply to trains occurred last night in part of the Channel Tunnel, affecting train and shuttle traffic," a spokesperson said.

"A technical intervention is required, which is currently under way.

"The service is temporarily suspended in both directions.

"Our teams are working to restore the situation as quickly as possible. Waiting times will be adjusted throughout the day.

"Eurotunnel apologises for the inconvenience and thanks its customers for their patience and understanding."

A Eurostar staff member at St Pancras station in central London told passengers all trains were cancelled.
"Today, nothing at all," she added.

Another member of staff was seen handing out water bottles to people waiting by a cordon.

Cars hoping to cross the Eurotunnel caused traffic jams on the approach to the Folkestone terminal.

Eurostar said in a statement: "Due to a problem with the overhead power supply and a subsequent failed LeShuttle train, the Channel Tunnel is currently closed.

"Unfortunately, this means we have no choice but to suspend all services today until further notice. Please do not come to the station. We're very sorry for the impact the situation may have on your travel plans."

LeShuttle passenger Tim Brown said he had been stuck in his car on the train at the Calais terminal for more than three hours with "no access to food or water".

Mr Brown, who is trying to get back to the UK after spending Christmas in Germany, is travelling with his dogs Rilo and Vinnie who he said are "hating life" stuck on the train.

"The fact that nobody has come around offering everybody a bottle of water is what has shocked me the most," he said.

"I know things happen, but surely that would be an easy way to help."

A man travelling to Paris for New Year's Eve with his partner said "we'll have to put romance on hold", after their Eurostar train was cancelled.

John Paul, from Peterborough, was bought the trip as a surprise Christmas present from his partner Lucy and said they had spent five hours on a Paris-bound train before it unexpectedly returned to London.

Speaking at King's Cross St Pancras, he said: "We left on the seven o'clock train this morning, we were sat on the train for about an hour, I think, waiting to leave from here, and then we got probably about an hour down the track, maybe 40 minutes, and then they basically said the train's got to stop because the train ahead got a braking issue.

"They kept telling us that the driver was trying to fix the brakes on this other train and that the other trains were then backed up and that was basically the same story that we were told all the way through.

"I think the thing is, at the minute there's no clear information and obviously we've lost a lot of money, haven't we?"

Mr Paul said they had a river cruise in Paris and the Eiffel Tower booked for this evening, adding: "We'll have to put romance on hold for a while."

A record-high 19.5 million passengers travelled on Eurostar last year, up nearly 5% on 2023, driven by demand from visitors to the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris.

Eurostar has held a monopoly on passenger services through the tunnel linking Britain and France since it opened in 1994.

But British entrepreneur Richard Branson - the man behind the Virgin airline - has vowed to launch a rival service. Italy's Trenitalia has also said it intends to compete with Eurostar on the Paris-London route by 2029.