Tens of thousands of Eurostar passengers have had their New Year travel plans torn up due to flooding on the High Speed 1 line between London and Ebbsfleet in Kent.
Problems began on Friday evening, with many trains delayed. It was hoped services would be able to start up on Saturday morning. But as the day wore on more and more trains were cancelled, until Eurostar finally announced during the afternoon that no services would run at all on Saturday.
A total of 41 have been trains cancelled, leaving upwards of 30,000 passengers with no immediate way to reach their destination – and uncertain about their entitlement to compensation.
Unfortunately for those travellers, rights for international rail travellers are far less comprehensive and generous than for airline passengers.
What are the chances of a train on Sunday?
Only the travel gods, and Network Rail engineers, can tell. Eurostar says: “Network Rail is continuing to keep Eurostar updated regarding how the situation continues to evolve ahead of tomorrow. We will be in direct contact with customers due to travel to keep them updated.”
No seats are on sale to Paris on Sunday 31 December, and to both Amsterdam and Brussels only one train has availability in Business Premier at £325 one-way. Eurostar does not allow free upgrades during disruption, again unlike airlines – which must put a stranded passenger in business class if that is the only seat available.
Can I fly home?
Air fares between Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and London have predictably soared, and many flights have sold out. Only one British Airways flight from Paris to London is available on Sunday, at a one-way fare of almost £700.
How else can I get home?
The easiest terrestrial alternative is from Amsterdam (or Rotterdam) to London by rail and sea: take the train from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, then the Metro to Hook of Holland. Stena Line has cabins available for tonight’s 10pm sailing to Harwich. With a bunk bed, you can sail all the way to Essex for £125.
Trains connect from Harwich towards London – though Network Rail engineering works make it a long train-bus-train journey to the capital.
Brussels passengers are best advised to travel via Rotterdam and Hook of Holland.
From Paris, the most direct route is to take the train from Gare St-Lazare via Rouen to Dieppe – but all tickets for the ferry to Newhaven in…
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