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Eurostar back on track after Channel Tunnel power fault

Louis Oelofse with AFP, Reuters
December 31, 2025

The operator of the train service connecting Britain with continental Europe has warned that delays may persist as travelers head out in the run-up to the New Year.

People gather near a Eurostar train at Gare du Nord station, after Eurostar announced a power supply problem in the Channel Tunnel that links Britain and France, in Paris, France, December 30, 2025
Thousands of passengers, hoping to get away to celebrate the new year, faced hours of delays after the train operator canceled all its service between London and continental EuropeImage: Stephanie Lecocq/REUTERS

Eurostar plans to run a full service on Wednesday, a day after a major power supply issue halted trains through the Channel Tunnel.

The disruption left thousands of travelers stranded in London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam during the busy New Year period.

"We plan to run all of our services today, however due to knock-on impacts there may still be some delays and possible last-minute cancellations," Eurostar said in a statement.

Rail disruption hits peak travel period

The disruption was caused by a fault in the system's overhead power supply on Tuesday and further issues with rail infrastructure overnight. It was compounded by a failed LeShuttle vehicle-carrying train inside the 50-kilometer (31-mile) Channel Tunnel linking Britain and France.

The operator postponed all services between London, Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.

Tuesday's incident is the latest to affect Eurostar, following an electrical fault that caused cancellations and delays in August. In June, cable theft led to two days of rail service disruptions.

Eurostar carried a record 19.5 million passengers last year, underscoring its importance during peak travel periods.

The company will face competition from Virgin and Italy's Trenitalia, which plan to launch rival services on the Paris-London route in the coming years.

Edited by. Sean Sinico

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