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Eurostar advised passengers on Tuesday to postpone their journeys after reports of a problem with the overhead power supply in the Channel Tunnel.
“Due to a problem with the overhead power supply in the Channel Tunnel and a subsequent failed Le Shuttle train, we strongly advise all our passengers to postpone their journey to a different date,” a statement on the company’s website said.
“Please don’t come to the station unless you already have a ticket to travel. We regret that trains that can run are subject to severe delays and last-minute cancellations.”
Eurostar blamed “overhead power supply issues in the Channel Tunnel” and what it said was a failed train operated by LeShuttle, which transports vehicle traffic by rail through the tunnel to and from the French port of Calais and the UK port of Folkestone.
The group representing train companies in the UK, National Rail, also warned passengers to change their travel plans and move their bookings to a different date.
“There is a problem with the overhead power supply in the Channel Tunnel,” the company said in a statement.
National Rail warned the power supply problem is expected to cause severe delays between London St Pancras and Paris Nord.
The Channel Tunnel’s operator, Eurotunnel, said in a separate statement that the power supply problem started overnight Monday in part of the tunnel, impacting both passenger and vehicle travel by rail in both directions through the tunnel.
It said traffic is expected to resume gradually on Tuesday afternoon.
“A technical intervention is required, which is currently under way,” it said. “Our teams are working to restore the situation as quickly as possible.”
This is a developing story and our journalists are working on further updates.
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