What’s happened?
- Severe Disruptions: Eurostar services are experiencing significant delays and cancellations due to overnight cable theft in Lille, exacerbated by previous fatalities on the rail lines.
- Passenger Assistance: The operator is providing water to delayed passengers and allowing changes to travel plans or full refunds amidst the ongoing chaos.
- Travel Advisory: Eurostar recommends that passengers consider cancelling or postponing their trips due to expected severe delays and last-minute cancellations.
Thousands of Eurostar passengers facing cancellations and severe delays after cable theft | UK News
Thousands of Eurostar passengers are suffering severe delays and last-minute cancellations due to cable theft – a day after two track fatalities caused disruption.
The latest delays come after 600 metres of copper cables were stolen overnight in the city of Lille in northern France, according to reports in the country.
Eurostar said this was forcing it to run services on alternative routes, causing extended journey times.
Its services were already disrupted because many trains and staff members were out of position after two fatalities on rail lines in France on Tuesday.
Passengers at St Pancras International station in London
At least five services on its London–Paris route were cancelled on Wednesday, and seven others were delayed by around an hour.
The operator said it was handing out water to passengers on delayed trains, and it has teams at stations to provide assistance.
Affected passengers are able to change their travel plans free of charge, or request a full refund.
Images show large crowds of stranded passengers at St Pancras International station in London today.
In a post on X, Eurostar said the cable theft meant trains were likely to be “subject to severe delays and last-minute cancellations”, adding: “We advise you to cancel or postpone your trip.”
Eurostar had said in a statement following the deaths on Tuesday: “We are deeply sorry to confirm that there were two separate fatalities on the LGV Nord high-speed line between Lille and Paris yesterday.
“Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives.
“The line was closed for much of the afternoon and evening, resulting in significant disruption to Eurostar services, including cancellations on routes to and from Paris.
“Trains on the London-Brussels-Amsterdam route continued to run with delays.
“This morning, disruption continues due to the knock-on impact of displaced trains and crew.
“Further to this, services have been further affected by an incident of cable theft on the same line near Lille.”