Storm Pia has unleashed Christmas travel chaos as major train line closures caused mass cancellations across the UK and flights were grounded by high winds – while a sudden French strike also forced the Eurotunnel to close.
There were chaotic scenes at London Euston and Kings Cross as damage to overhead wires between Watford and Milton Keynes disrupted the main route to Manchester, while a fallen tree near Doncaster also knocked out travel on the East Coast Main Line to Edinburgh.
At Heathrow Airport, British Airways cancelled dozens of flights between domestic and international destinations in Europe and the United States, while a shock French strike at the Eurotunnel left tens of thousands of passengers on 30 Eurostar trains from London, Paris and Brussels unable to travel.
The Eurostar cancellations spell terrible news for the thousands of people who were hoping to escape from London St Pancras to France, Belgium or beyond for Christmas.
Eurostar bookings for the next few days are heavy, meaning it may prove difficult to find space for everyone who needs to travel.
Rail travellers stand beneath empty departures boards at Euston on Thursday as the chaos unfolds
(Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)
A Eurostar spokesperson said: “Due to a last-minute strike by Eurotunnel staff, no Channel Tunnel crossings have taken place since midday.
“Unfortunately, this means 30 Eurostar trains have been cancelled out of London, Paris or Brussels until the end of the day.
“For passengers due to travel tomorrow, Eurostar will update them directly with any changes to services from 19.00UK/20.00CET (Central European Time).”
They added: “Customers who have been affected today have received direct communication about their journey and had the option to exchange their tickets free of charge or claim a refund.”
Meanwhile, swathes of the UK were subject to weather warnings on Thursday as gusts of up to 115mph were recorded in the Scottish Highlands and wind speeds hit around 80mph elsewhere in Scotland and northern England.
The roof was torn from several properties in Sheffield, while trees were uprooted across the country, causing a man to be hospitalised with what are understood to be non-life-threatening injuries after one fell onto his car on the A515 in Derbyshire.
As roads were closed in Derbyshire, workmen were also attempting to remove a tree…
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