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Eurostar passengers are experiencing a second consecutive day of significant disruptions following two fatalities on the railway tracks in France, compounded by subsequent cable theft.
While the high-speed rail operator reports that repairs have been completed and the line has reopened, delays are expected to persist throughout the day.
Eurostar is advising passengers to postpone their journeys if possible, as the disruptions have led to cancellations and delays in both directions on routes connecting London with Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.
The initial disruption on Tuesday, stemming from two separate fatal incidents on the LGV Nord line, was further exacerbated by the theft of cables on the same line, causing a ripple effect into Wednesday’s services.
According to French media reports, the theft, which occurred near Lille and involved approximately 600 meters of copper cables, necessitated the rerouting of trains and resulted in extended journey durations.
With the railway line now repaired, further cancellations are not anticipated for Wednesday.
To date, Eurostar has confirmed the cancellation of five trains operating between London and Paris.
Affected passengers are eligible to modify their travel arrangements without charge or request a full refund.
“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this is causing our customers,” Eurostar stated.
“Our teams are collaborating closely with French authorities and infrastructure personnel to effectively manage the situation and ensure the safe restoration of services.”
The operator previously indicated that one track had been reopened, allowing limited train service in both directions pending the completion of comprehensive repairs.
Water is being distributed to passengers aboard delayed trains, and stations are experiencing high congestion.
Hundreds of individuals are queuing at London’s St Pancras International station, attempting to access the service center to rebook their journeys.
Elizabeth Romijn, a yoga instructor from the Netherlands, described the situation at St Pancras to PA news agency as “very chaotic,” noting that many individuals were forced to sit on the floor due to a lack of available seating.
Ms. Romijn, 75, was en route home to Brussels following a visit with friends in Surrey.
“My plan is to just wait. Maybe I should go and be more proactive and go to ask one of the staff but nobody seems to know anything,” she said, adding that “it’s quite horrible long queues.”
The railway line in France was closed for a significant portion of Tuesday afternoon and evening following the two fatal incidents between Lille and Paris.
Services to and from Paris were cancelled, while trains operating between London, Brussels, and Amsterdam experienced delays.
Eurostar has indicated that the disruption carried over into Wednesday due to the displacement of trains and crew.
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Additional reporting by Barry Caffrey at St Pancras station.
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