A power supply problem to the Channel Tunnel, which connects the United Kingdom to France via underground passageway, is reporting severe delays, with authorities urging travelers not to travel today as trains are canceled and waiting passengers experience hours-long delays.
According to the BBC, Eurostar, which runs passenger trains from London across the Channel, has canceled all its services today, Tuesday, December 30. The issue is due to the overhead power supply and a failed Le Shuttle train. Le Shuttle trains carry road vehicles and passengers through the Channel Tunnel.
Tickets for trains for tomorrow are quickly selling out as passengers scramble to change their travel plans.
Traffic to the Le Shuttle terminal near Folkestone is also experiencing 45-minute delays, according to the National Highways. And Le Shuttle departures from Calais to Folkestone are now experiencing three-hour delays.
To deal with the impacted travelers, LNER passengers whose trains were canceled can return to their original destinations from King’s Cross for free, with the company telling BBC that “any customers who have had to abandon their journey in London King’s Cross are able to return to their home station on the next available LNER service at no additional cost.”
National Rail is also encouraging travelers to reschedule their train travel, noting that “There is a problem with the overhead power supply in the Channel Tunnel. Trains are likely to be subject to severe delays and last-minute cancellations…We strongly advise all passengers to postpone their journey to a different date.”
Hope’s not all lost for those looking to cross the English Channel, though. The Port of Dover told BBC that ferry operators running between Dover and Calais are offering extra room for impacted rail passengers, providing an alternative travel method.
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