Eurostar resumes services through the Channel Tunnel but warns of "delays and cancellations"

Eurostar, the high-speed train service connecting the UK with mainland Europe, gradually resumed rail services through the Maneg Channel Tunnel on Tuesday evening after several hours with the infrastructure shut down. However, on Wednesday morning, the company warned that delays and last-minute train cancellations were still possible throughout the day. "We plan to operate all services today, although, due to the effects of the strike, there may still be some delays and possible last-minute cancellations," the text added. On Tuesday, the rail company had announced the closure of the tunnel due to a power outage and the subsequent breakdown of the Le Shuttle train—the service that transports cars and trucks between France and Great Britain—forcing the company to "suspend all services today until nine." While Eurostar initially warned of the risk of "significant delays and last-minute cancellations," it later confirmed the suspension of all scheduled services on Tuesday. Hours later, it announced that it was gradually resuming train traffic on this infrastructure. Complications began Monday night into Tuesday morning due to a power outage affecting trains in a section of the Channel Tunnel, disrupting train and convoy traffic and requiring technical intervention. Eurostar, the company that operates high-speed lines from London to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam and is one of the main users of the Channel Tunnel, had to suspend its services Tuesday morning after many of its trains experienced delays, some lasting several hours.

Eurostar is offering affected passengers the option to rearrange their plans by changing their booking free of charge to travel in the same class, on a different date or time; canceling their booking and requesting an e-voucher to use within 12 months of the cancelled travel date; or canceling their booking and receiving a refund. Eurostar also states that affected LNER customers, the North East London Rail operator, with tickets dated Tuesday, December 30, "will be able to travel on an alternative LNER train today." In addition, customers who had to abandon their journey at London St. Pancras station will be able to return to their original station on the next available LNER service at no extra cost, while LNER customers who choose to postpone their Eurostar journey will be able to use their existing LNER ticket for travel on the same day.