Eurostar passengers endured a nightmare journey on Wednesday, June 24, when a train from Paris to Amsterdam was stranded for more than eight hours due to a technical problem, leaving them without electricity or air conditioning in blistering heat.
Incident Details
The train departed Gare du Nord in Paris bound for Amsterdam but was forced to stop near Fresnoy-le-Luat (Oise) just after 7:30pm. According to Le Parisien, a technical problem caused the driver to halt the train, cutting power and air conditioning. Passengers were left waiting either on the train or alongside the tracks as temperatures soared.
The delay stretched over eight hours, with the original arrival in Brussels scheduled for 7:47pm. A rail replacement finally arrived at 12:30am the following day, taking passengers to Brussels. Others continued to Amsterdam by bus or taxi.
Passenger Ordeal
Passengers took to social media to share their distress. One wrote on X: "Eurostar, our train from Paris to Brussels is stopped on the tracks, what the hell is going on?" Eurostar responded, stating: "A technical incident caused by exceptional heatwave conditions has occurred on board the train."
A passenger reported that police, firefighters, and civil protection crews arrived to assist the elderly and distribute water.
Eurostar Apology
Amar Chaabi, Eurostar’s Chief Operating Officer, said: "We fully understand what our passengers experienced last night and offer them our sincerest apologies. The safety of our customers guided every decision taken throughout this incident. I would like to commend the exemplary efforts of our teams, SNCF Réseau, Infrabel, and the emergency services in assisting passengers to their destinations. We will analyze this incident in detail to learn all the lessons and continue to improve our customer service."
