Thousands of Eurostar passengers are facing severe disruption and extended delays as services struggle to resume following a major power failure in the Channel Tunnel. The incident, which began on Tuesday, has left an estimated 25,000 travellers affected during the busy New Year period.
Infrastructure Failure Causes Widespread Cancellations
The travel chaos started on Tuesday 30 December 2025, when an overhead power supply problem combined with a failed LeShuttle train to block all routes through the vital Channel Tunnel link. This forced Eurostar to cancel all of its services from London to continental Europe for the entire day.
While a single line reopened on Tuesday evening, allowing a limited service to resume, the operator confirmed there were "further issues with rail infrastructure overnight". The knock-on effects continued into Wednesday 31 December, with the first scheduled train from London St Pancras to Paris being cancelled outright. The second service faced a delay of nearly half an hour.
Ongoing Disruption and Passenger Warning
Eurostar has issued a fresh statement warning travellers that "due to knock-on impacts there may still be some delays and possible last-minute cancellations". Although some later services on Wednesday appear to be running to schedule, the situation remains volatile.
Passengers have been left stranded, with some reportedly spending the night on stationary trains. The Independent's Travel Correspondent, Simon Calder, has highlighted the scale of the problem, estimating that 25,000 passengers have been caught up in the disruption.
Compensation 'Highly Unlikely' for Incurred Costs
In a blow to affected travellers, Calder has warned that airline-style compensation is "highly unlikely" to be offered by Eurostar. Crucially, the operator will also not cover any additional costs passengers have faced as a direct result of the cancellations.
This means expenses such as hotel fees, alternative transport, or missed event bookings will have to be absorbed by the passengers themselves. The advice for anyone due to travel in the coming days is to check the Eurostar website for live service updates before departing for the station.
The disruption serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of this critical transport link, especially during peak holiday travel times, and leaves thousands facing a stressful and uncertain start to the New Year.
