Eurostar cancels all trains after power failure in Channel Tunnel

Wednesday, December 31, 2025 -Eurostar has suspended all its high-speed train services between London and mainland Europe after a major power supply failure in the Channel Tunnel, causing chaos for travelers during a busy period of the year. 

The outage, caused by an issue with the overhead power system and compounded by a failed Le Shuttle train blocking the route, forced Eurostar to halt services to key destinations including Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. 

Thousands of passengers were left stranded at major terminals such as London’s St Pancras and Paris Gare du Nord, with crowding and long waits reported as travelers sought alternatives.

Officials advised passengers not to travel to stations unless absolutely necessary, urging people to postpone journeys or rebook for later dates, with free exchanges or refunds offered. The disruption also affected vehicle shuttle services (Le Shuttle) through the tunnel, adding to delays and frustration among road travelers. 

With the tunnel initially fully closed and then only partially reopened on one track, train operations were limited and subject to severe delays and last-minute cancellations.

By Wednesday, Eurostar had begun restoring services, but warned that delays and cancellations could persist as the network recovered from the outage and residual infrastructure issues continued to disrupt schedules. 

With only one tunnel track running at times, travelers were still urged to check updates and prepare for disruption as rail traffic returned to a more normal pattern. The incident highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in critical cross-border transport infrastructure during peak holiday travel times.