Travelers making their way across the Channel Tunnel faced significant disruptions today. A major power supply outage disrupted both LeShuttle and Eurostar service. A failed LeShuttle train added insult to injury with huge complications. Yet passengers traveling between the UK and France now receive warnings of hours-long delays.
LeShuttle carries cars with their drivers and passengers through the Le Shuttle Channel Tunnel Le Shuttle. They said which caused significant delays impacting both of their terminals in Folkestone and Calais. UK passengers were left with a three-and-a-half-hour delay on their side. On the French side, in the meantime, travelers were facing two-hour delays. Things took a turn for the worse for departures from Calais to Folkestone, where the delays jumped from two hours to three.
The disruption was caused by a problem with the overhead power supply in the Channel Tunnel. This miscounding even resulted in the disastrous sinking of a LeShuttle train. Consequently, Eurostar services were cancelled completely, with no more trains running for the day.
Passengers hoping to travel through St Pancras International were met with warning that all Eurostar services had been abruptly cancelled. As it dragged on, frustration intensified among would-be applicants waiting for news. Other travelers described being marooned at the terminals since dawn, with no details given on when they would be re-accommodated or how.
“They’ve just said all services are cancelled,” said Kelly North, expressing her disappointment at the lack of communication.
The production ultimately led to LeShuttle being forced to make announcements warning customers of severe disruptions, and advising travelers to try rescheduling their trips. This is a classic story from our innovative operators on the ground! They advised all customers to re-plan their journeys as a result of issues with the overhead electrical supply within the Channel Tunnel and a derailed Le Shuttle train.
Travelers described their experience as increasingly stressful. Steph Roberts highlighted the lack of information from staff, saying, “We’ve not had any updates, or been given any food or water.” To deal with the lengthy delay, she began taking her dog on long walks. She further entertained herself with endless scrolling on social media and ripping through magazines.
Harry Baines, another passenger ensnared in the pandemonium, decried his lost day. “I have basically wasted the whole start of my day coming here,” he remarked. For him, the travel plans were supposed to be the birthday trip of a lifetime. I remember feeling ecstatic when I found out that I was going on vacation for my birthday. It was an awesome way to end the year!
As tempers started to boil over between travelers, some passengers started looking for help from fellow terminal dwellers. “And everybody’s really kind of freaking out, everybody’s looking for assistance,” Kelly North said. In an incredible act of solidarity, their fellow passengers provided physical assistance. “Everybody’s pitching in, all the youngies are coming in and doing their part.” — Bethany Massey-Chase
The Port of Dover announced that it had capacity for extra passengers as travelers sought alternate routes amidst the chaos. It was still not clear how far they could stretch, given that away from the Super Bowl service continued to be cancelled and delayed.
The situation is expected to remain fluid as authorities work to resolve the issues impacting travel through the Channel Tunnel. Adventurers and sightseers travel on their services. They ought to adjust for expected future delays or cancellations, too.