Eurostar passengers are braced for more possible disruption after a power outage in the Channel Tunnel caused travel chaos for thousands of people on Tuesday.
As people scrambled to get to New Year's Eve celebrations, some travelers reported spending over six hours stuck onboard trains overnight as services faced additional delays.
One man stated he boarded the 19:01 service to Paris, yet as of 03:00 GMT he remained on the train at the entrance to the tunnel. Staff informed him of a 50% chance we go to Paris, 50% chance we go back to London.
I guess my new year plan is in the hands of the tunnel operators now, the 27-year-old Parisian said.
Eurostar aimed to operate with all services on Wednesday but noted the likelihood of remaining delays and potential cancellations.
The service from London to Paris that was scheduled for 06:00 GMT was cancelled. The outage affected overhead power supply and a malfunctioning LeShuttle train, blocking routes and creating disruptions for New Year's Eve travelers.
By Tuesday evening, some Eurostar and LeShuttle services resumed, yet delays persisted, with only one of the tunnel's two rail lines operational.
Getlink, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, stated that work to resolve the power issue continued throughout the night.
By Wednesday morning, Eurostar's website confirmed: Services have resumed today following yesterday's power issue in the Channel Tunnel, though some additional delays and last-minute cancellations might still occur.
Passengers like Dennis van der Steen from the Netherlands, on his way to Amsterdam for New Year's Eve, spent six hours stuck on a Eurostar train before it moved again around 03:00 GMT. He noted the absence of power onboard and expressed concern for fellow passengers.
A photograph shared with the BBC depicted overhead electrical cables across the tracks, and images of large crowds stranded at London St Pancras circulated on social media.
Passengers were provided with options to rebook or cancel their journeys without charge as Eurostar urged customers to adjust their travel plans, requesting they not arrive at stations if their trains had already been cancelled.
