Eurostar has faced a major setback as flooding in a tunnel beneath the River Thames has forced the cancellation of all Saturday services to and from London St Pancras. This unexpected turn
of events has disrupted New Year travel plans, leaving many passengers in disarray.
Initially hopeful of running later services, Eurostar ultimately called off all 41 trains by 14:00 GMT. The impact extended beyond Eurostar, affecting Southeastern's high-speed services to Ebbsfleet that share the same route.
Video footage captured inside the flooded tunnel revealed water surging onto the tracks from a pipe attached to the tunnel wall. Thames Water suggested that a "fire control system," rather than its own pipes, likely triggered the flooding.
Passengers were left scrambling to rearrange their New Year's Eve arrangements. Disappointed travelers at St Pancras, including Christina David and Georgina Benyamin from Sydney, found themselves stranded after weeks of budget travel across Europe. Their plans to culminate in a grand celebration in Paris were dashed, leaving them frustrated and uncertain about their next steps.
Similar tales of disappointment emerged from Paris' Gare Du Nord, where passengers like Curt Downs and his family encountered cancellations and overwhelming crowds. With limited assistance from Eurostar staff, they faced the daunting task of finding alternative routes back to the UK.
Amid the chaos, instances of kindness surfaced, with some travelers offering their tickets to others in distress. Yet, the situation remained dire, with available flights and ferries sold out.
Efforts to resolve the issue persisted, with engineers working tirelessly to address the unprecedented volume of water in the tunnel. Despite ongoing apologies and efforts from HS1, the track operator, restoring services remained a significant challenge, leaving the situation uncertain.
This incident marks the second disruption within a brief span, following a strike by French workers just before Christmas. Moreover, widespread transportation issues across different regions of the UK due to weather-related problems compounded the travel woes.
Warnings from the Met Office for wind, rain, and snow further complicated travel plans across various parts of the country, signaling a challenging period for travelers and transportation services alike. Photo by SteveMcSherry at the English Wikipedia.