Eurostar halts Channel Tunnel services

Eurostar suspended cross-Channel services after a power supply fault in the Channel Tunnel halted trains between London and continental Europe, causing widespread disruption during the peak holiday travel period. The operator said the fault originated in the tunnel’s infrastructure rather than on its trains; engineers were dispatched to locate and repair the electrical issue and to carry out safety inspections before services could resume. Eurostar warned passengers not to travel, posted notices of severe delays on its website and advised those already en route to expect lengthy waits.

Major stations including London St Pancras, northern French terminals and Belgian hubs saw growing crowds as travellers faced delays or cancellations. Station staff worked to distribute information and provide assistance; many passengers were rebooked onto later services or issued refunds, while others turned to alternative routes such as ferries and flights, increasing demand on those services. Some travellers reported long waits and crowded facilities as the backlog mounted.

The tunnel operator confirmed specialist teams were on site to restore power and carry out checks, and warned that even after power was re-established significant knock-on disruption was likely because of late-running trains and displaced crews. Officials said no injuries were reported and that safety systems operated as designed, underscoring that the suspension was a precautionary measure to ensure passenger safety.

Eurostar said it was working closely with the tunnel operator to resume normal operations as soon as possible, apologised for the inconvenience and stated that affected customers would be contacted directly with rebooking options and information on refunds and compensation once the situation was clarified. The company encouraged passengers to check official channels for updates before travelling.

Transport analysts noted that the Channel Tunnel is a critical artery linking the UK with continental Europe, and even brief infrastructure faults can produce widespread ripple effects across international timetables and freight logistics. They said the incident highlights the vulnerability of cross-border rail services to technical failures and underlines the importance of contingency planning and resilient systems for peak travel periods.

With repair work ongoing and timetables uncertain, authorities urged travellers to monitor operator announcements, allow extra time if they must travel, and consider alternative routes.