Eurostar Cancels All Trains After Power Failure in Channel Tunnel

Service disrupted during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year

The high‑speed Eurostar service that links London with Paris, Brussels and other major European cities was brought to a complete halt on Tuesday after a sudden power outage affected the Channel Tunnel. The incident occurred during the peak of the summer travel season, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and prompting an emergency response from both British and French authorities.

What happened: At approximately 09:45 GMT, control centre operators detected a loss of electricity in the tunnel’s ventilation and signalling systems. The outage triggered an automatic safety protocol that halted all trains inside the tunnel and prevented any new departures from either side of the Channel.

Immediate impact: All Eurostar services scheduled for Tuesday were cancelled, including the highly demanded morning and afternoon slots. “We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused to our customers,” said a spokesperson for Eurostar in a press release. “Our teams are working around the clock to restore power and resume operations as quickly as possible.”

Passengers were escorted to nearby stations where they received vouchers for alternative transport, such as coach services and flights, and were offered full refunds or the option to rebook on later trains. Travel agencies and airlines reported a surge in last‑minute bookings as travelers sought to reach their destinations before the weekend.

Technical details: Engineers from Getlink, the tunnel operator, identified a fault in the high‑voltage supply line that feeds the tunnel’s critical infrastructure. The problem required the replacement of several transformer units, a process expected to take several hours. “Safety is our top priority,” the Getlink chief engineer emphasized, “and we will not resume services until the system is fully verified.”

Future outlook: Eurostar estimates that normal service could resume by late Thursday, pending successful testing of the repaired power system. In the meantime, the company has set up a dedicated hotline and a live‑update page on its website to keep passengers informed about the evolving situation.

Travel experts advise customers to monitor the Eurostar website or contact customer service before attempting to travel, as further disruptions cannot be ruled out.