London(The COW News Digital)Eurostar has suspended all train services between the United Kingdom and mainland Europe after a sudden power supply failure inside the Channel Tunnel, causing widespread disruption and leaving thousands of passengers stranded on December 30, 2025.
According to Eurostar officials, the disruption began when an unexpected fault occurred in the overhead power supply system within the Channel Tunnel. The issue led to the breakdown of a Le Shuttle train, prompting authorities to halt all inbound and outbound rail traffic between London and major European destinations, including Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, as a safety precaution.
By midday, at least a dozen Eurostar services had been cancelled across the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, while several other trains were either delayed or diverted to alternative routes. Britain’s National Rail service warned passengers that the disruption could continue until the end of the day, advising travelers to postpone non-essential journeys.
At London’s St Pancras International Station, Eurostar staff urged passengers not to travel and instead rebook their journeys for later dates. Many travelers reported overcrowding at the terminal, with limited information available during the initial hours of the disruption. Families, tourists and business travelers were among those affected, some having already waited for several hours.
Eurostar management confirmed that passengers impacted by the cancellations would be allowed to change their bookings free of charge. Travelers also have the option to cancel their tickets and receive a full refund or an electronic travel voucher for future use.
The power issue also affected the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle service, which transports vehicles between Folkestone in the UK and Calais in France. Services on this route were temporarily suspended, resulting in delays of up to three and a half hours at the Folkestone terminal and approximately three hours at Calais.
Several passengers expressed frustration over the lack of timely updates and basic facilities during the disruption. Some reported shortages of food and drinking water while being confined to trains or vehicles for extended periods.
Eurotunnel authorities stated that technical teams were working urgently to resolve the power supply problem and restore normal operations as soon as possible. They added that safety remained the top priority and services would resume only after the issue was fully addressed.
The incident once again highlights the vulnerability of cross-border transport to technical failures, particularly during peak travel periods, when even short disruptions can escalate into major logistical challenges for passengers and operators alike.
