Travel News

Eurostar cancels all trains as thousands stranded in London after tunnel flood

Simon Calder’s Travel

File: Snow blankets Scottish towns as Met Office issues two weather warnings

Thousands of holidaymakers have been stranded in St Pancras after flooding in the Thames tunnel sparked Eurostar cancellations.

The central London terminal is filled with people in tears who have lost out on Disneyland trips and devastated holidaymakers who say their New Year plans have been “ruined” by the cancellations.

All of Saturday’s Eurostar trains between London St Pancras International and Continental Europe have been cancelled due to flooding on the High Speed 1 line near Ebbsfleet International

A spokesperson said: “Eurostar has been made aware by Network Rail that flooding in the tunnels between St Pancras International and Ebbsfleet has not improved and train services are unable to operate.”

Southeastern Railway trains also said none of their services will run between Ebbsfleet and London St Pancras International today.

Thames Water revealed on Saturday afternoon that the cause of the flood was a “fire control system” rather than the company’s pipes.

Further travel delays, flooding and power cuts are to be expected over the weekend according to the Met Office as the country gears up for a wet and cold New Year’s Eve.

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How can I get home and what are my rights?

The Independent’s Travel Correspondent Simon Calder arrived at the Eurostar hub in central London at 5.30am on Saturday morning– just as the first news of cancellations was spreading.

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.

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.

Simon Calder explains how you can get home if your train was cancelled and what your rights are:

Athena Stavrou30 December 2023 16:50

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Family ‘trying not to be homeless with children in cold London night’ after Eurostar travel chaos

A mother has said her family is “trying not to be homeless with children in cold London night” after Eurostar travel chaos upended their “dream” trip to the French capital and Disneyland Paris.

Luana Andrade, 36, her husband Rondi Oroujo, 32, and their three-year-old…

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Independent Travel…