Power Cut Paralyses Channel Tunnel: Eurostar Cancels All Trains

Passengers Stranded as Tunnel Goes Dark

It began with a flicker. Seconds later every light in the Channel Tunnel snapped off, and the 50-kilometre ribbon of steel beneath the sea fell silent. By dawn, Eurostar had cancelled every service between London and the continent, leaving 30,000 travellers scrambling for planes and ferries.

‘We Just Sat There in the Dark’

Sarah Mellor, a marketing exec from Manchester, had boarded the 06:13 to Paris for a wedding. Forty minutes into the journey the train coasted to a stop somewhere under the Dover Strait. “No air-con, no announcements, just the emergency floor lights,” she said. “We waited three hours before staff walked the aisle handing out water.”

We could hear the ventilation fans die. That’s when people started to worry.— Sarah Mellor, stranded passenger

What Caused the Blackout?

Getlink, which operates the tunnel, blamed an overnight fault in the 25 kV overhead line that powers both passenger and freight trains. Engineers traced the failure to a 2.5-kilometre section midway between the UK and French portals. “A section of catenary wire detached,” a spokesperson said. “We are working to isolate and repair it, but the tunnel will remain closed until at least tomorrow morning.”

Eurostar’s Cancellations at a Glance

• London–Paris: 42 trains cancelled
• London–Brussels: 18 trains cancelled
• London–Amsterdam: 6 trains cancelled
• Peak-hour trains to Disneyland and Lyon also suspended

The Ripple Effect

Ferry operators DFDS and P&O reported a 300 % surge in foot-passenger bookings within hours. Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, which carries vehicles, is also suspended, pushing freight lorries onto Dover’s snaking approach roads. The Road Haulage Association warns of 48-hour delays for perishables.

Compensation Chaos

Eurostar says full refunds or free re-booking within 60 days will be offered, but passengers must apply online. Consumer-rights group Which? advises keeping receipts for hotels and meals—EU regulation EC 1371 guarantees care and compensation, yet payouts can take weeks.

When Will It Reopen?

Technicians are shuttling replacement cable into the north tunnel tonight. If tests pass, Eurostar hopes to run a reduced timetable from 06:00 Friday, though seats will be “extremely limited” and social-distancing rules may cap capacity at 50 %.

Until then, the tunnel that once symbolised European unity sits empty and dark, its fluorescent lights waiting for the spark that reconnects two continents.