Eurostar, the high-speed train service connecting London to mainland Europe, grappled with a substantial disruption on Saturday as it was forced to cancel trains to and from London due to flooding in a tunnel beneath the River Thames. This unexpected cancellation, impacting a minimum of 29 trains, resulted in the plight of numerous travelers stranded at key stations such as London’s St. Pancras International and Paris’s Gare du Nord.
Engineers faced an uphill battle, contending with unprecedented water levels in the affected tunnel. However, a glimmer of hope emerged as they reported that water levels were gradually receding. The travel chaos unfolded amidst the festive period, exacerbated by the tumultuous weather conditions brought about by Storm Gerrit – characterized by gusty winds and heavy rain. The timing couldn’t have been more inconvenient, disrupting plans for New Year’s Eve celebrations for many affected passengers.
Among those expressing disappointment was Chris Dillashaw from San Antonio, Texas, who shared, “Our entire family is here… We were celebrating Christmas in Paris and then headed to London for our New Year’s Eve plans.” Meanwhile, Christina David and Georgina Benyamin from Sydney found themselves in a predicament, lacking accommodation options after their London to Paris train, the concluding leg of a weeks-long European tour, was abruptly canceled.
Eurostar, in acknowledgment of the unforeseen issues, expressed regret and recognized the critical time for travelers returning home at the end of the festive season. This disruption follows closely on the heels of previous Eurostar service interruptions just before Christmas, attributed to a strike by Eurotunnel staff.
Adding complexity to the situation, the Met Office forecasts more turbulent weather for London and southern England on Saturday, with gusts expected to reach up to 50 miles per hour (80 kph), particularly near coastal areas. While Eurostar diligently works to address the flooding and resume services, the travel landscape faces added intricacy during the final weekend of the year, impacting the plans of numerous passengers relying on Eurostar for their journeys.
