Eurostar chaos after power failure

EUROSTAR services resumed yesterday evening after an earlier power failure saw the Channel Tunnel closed.

- GEORGE LITHGOW & ROSIE SHEAD

The passenger rail operator previously said all of its London to Europe services for the day were cancelled, but it later said trains would resume after the tunnel was partially reopened. But it urged customers to rebook travel for a different date and not to come to London St Pancras station if their train’s cancellation was confirmed.

A problem with the overhead power supply and a failed LeShuttle train blocked all routes earlier yesterday, causing travel chaos for thousands trying to get away to celebrate the new year.

In a statement, Eurostar said: “As the Channel Tunnel has partially reopened we will start to resume services. The overhead power supply issue remains, and we strongly advise all our passengers to postpone their journey to a different date.