Eurostar chaos as all trains cancelled due to power issues in Channel Tunnel

Delays of at least four hours are impacting travellers from the UK, with huge queues pictured at Folkestone and passengers at St Pancras Station being told all Eurostar trains have been cancelled.

Some reports online suggest passengers have been left stranded on trains due to the fault.

The cross-Channel train operator said in a statement on its website: “Due to a problem with the overhead power supply and a subsequent failed Le Shuttle train the Channel tunnel is currently closed.

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“Unfortunately, this means we have no choice but to suspend all services today until further notice.

“Please do not come to the station.

“We’re very sorry for the impact the situation may have on your travel plans.”

Speaking to LBC, one passenger at St Pancras who was supposed to be heading on his honeymoon slammed the lack of communication from the travel companies.

"We arrived and we were told that all trains today are cancelled, though we didn't see that until we got here to this part.

"When we first came into the station, they were still showing that they were running, but then they finally put up something that said cancelled.

"And the public announcements are saying you may go to the desk at Eurostar and get another ticket, transfer your ticket or get a refund, but they won't let you in there to that area.

"You can't book anything through the app for tomorrow. I've been trying to get flights. No flights. So we'll just have to see what we. What we come up with."

A man travelling to Paris for New Year’s Eve with his partner said “we’ll have to put romance on hold”, after their Eurostar train was cancelled.

John Paul, from Peterborough, was bought the trip as a surprise Christmas present from his partner Lucy and said they had spent five hours on a Paris-bound train before it unexpectedly returned to London.

Speaking at King’s Cross St Pancras, the 46-year-old said: “We left on the seven o’clock train this morning, we were sat on the train for about an hour, I think, waiting to leave from here, and then we got probably about an hour down the track, maybe 40 minutes, and then they basically said the train’s got to stop because the train ahead got a braking issue.

“So they kept telling us that the driver was trying to fix the brakes on this other train and that the other trains were then backed up and that was basically the same story that we were told all the way through.”

“I think the thing is, at the minute, there’s no clear information and obviously, we’ve lost a lot of money, haven’t we?” he added.

Mr Paul said they had a river cruise in Paris and the Eiffel Tower booked for Tuesday evening, adding: “We’ll have to put romance on hold for a while.”

One X user wrote: "We are stationary in the car queue with no food or water. Any chance of being let into the terminal please?"

Another said they had been “stranded on the Eurostar for four hours”.

National Rail is also advising people to avoid journeys between London St Pancras International and Paris Nord.

Its website reads: "There is a problem with the overhead power supply in the Channel Tunnel.

"Trains are likely to be subject to severe delays and last-minute cancellations.

"Check before you travel as your journey could be disrupted. We strongly advise all passengers to postpone their journey to a different date."

Passengers affected by the Eurostar disruption can travel to their home station for free on LNER trains, the rail operator said.

A statement on the firm’s website said: “LNER customers with tickets dated Tuesday, December 30, who have been affected can travel on an alternative LNER train today, December 30.

“Any customers who have had to abandon their journey in London King’s Cross can return to their home station on the next available LNER service at no additional cost.

“LNER customers who choose to defer their Eurostar travel to a different day may use their existing LNER ticket to travel on the same day.”

LNER runs services on the East Coast Main Line.