Uk, French Travelers Stranded as Power Outage Cancels Channel Trains

Thousands of passengers were left stranded across the UK and northern France on Tuesday after Eurostar abruptly canceled all services through the Channel Tunnel, triggering widespread travel chaos at one of the busiest points of the holiday season.

Travel plans collapsed within hours as trains between London and mainland Europe were wiped from departure boards, leaving packed platforms at St Pancras International and uncertainty for travelers trying to return home or reach year-end destinations. Station staff told passengers there would be no departures at all, advising many to leave the station entirely.

Eurostar urged customers not to travel and to postpone journeys, but the message came after many had already arrived with luggage in tow. Long lines formed as passengers sought information, refunds, or alternative routes, with many reporting confusion and a lack of clear timelines for when services might resume.

The disruption rippled quickly beyond rail passengers. Vehicle traffic through the Channel Tunnel was also affected, leading to long waits on both sides of the crossing as drivers queued for updates or turned back altogether. For travelers hoping to cross between the UK and France, options narrowed to limited ferry services already under pressure.

The shutdown hit during a peak holiday travel window, compounding frustration for families, tourists, and business travelers. Social media quickly filled with complaints from passengers who said they were given conflicting advice or no information at all. Some reported being stuck for hours with no confirmed rebooking, while others scrambled to find last-minute flights at sharply increased prices.

Eurostar offered affected passengers the option to rebook for a later date, claim refunds, or receive travel vouchers, but many expressed concern that alternative dates were already filling up or incompatible with work schedules. Hotels near major stations in London and Paris also saw a surge in last-minute booking requests as travelers resigned themselves to overnight delays.

By early afternoon, there was still no clear indication of when cross-Channel rail traffic would resume, leaving thousands in limbo. Authorities continued to urge passengers to stay away from stations and wait for further updates, as the ripple effects of the shutdown spread across Europe’s travel network.

For many, what was meant to be a routine journey or a holiday return turned into an open-ended wait, with no trains, no timetable, and no easy way across the Channel.