Eurostar Services Suspended Amidst Power Supply Issues in Channel Tunnel

Eurostar has announced the suspension of all trains connecting London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels as of Tuesday, December 30. A spokesperson attributed this disruption to a power supply problem in the Channel Tunnel, which was compounded by a shuttle train halting within the tunnel itself. As a result, all journeys to and from London are currently suspended until further notice. The operator identified that the chaos stemmed from an issue with the overhead power supply in the Channel Tunnel, alongside the breakdown of a Le Shuttle train. Eurostar, which operates high-speed train services between Britain and mainland Europe, has advised travelers to stay updated on the status of their train journeys via live updates. This disruption occurs during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, when many are traveling between Christmas and New Year. Eurostar typically runs trains from London’s St Pancras station to major destinations including Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. It also operates Le Shuttle, a service that transports vehicles between Folkestone in southeast England and Calais in northern France. Last year, a record-high of 19.5 million passengers utilized Eurostar, marking a nearly 5% increase from 2023, largely fueled by the influx of travelers for the Olympics and Paralympics held in Paris. Eurostar has maintained a monopoly over passenger services through the Channel Tunnel since its inception in 1994, but competition is on the horizon. British entrepreneur Richard Branson, known for his Virgin airline, has expressed intentions to launch a rival service. Furthermore, Italy's Trenitalia has announced its plans to enter the Paris-London route by 2029, potentially shaking up the current landscape of rail travel across the Channel. Travelers are urged to remain vigilant as the situation develops, with authorities working diligently to resolve the power issues affecting the vital rail link between Britain and mainland Europe. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2 • Source 3