Eurostar passengers evacuate on to tracks after hours-long breakdown

Telegraph

a day ago

Passengers have been left stranded for seven hours after a Eurostar train broke down.
Footage on social media shows dozens of passengers walking next to the tracks hours after the London-bound train from Brussels stopped between Lille and Calais in northern France because of a power failure.
The doors were opened and water handed out to passengers, a Eurostar spokesman confirmed, but four hours into the wait, passengers left the train.
Eurostar said a replacement had been sent from London which was scheduled to arrive at 1.30pm, but was delayed. It was thought to have arrived by 4.45pm, according to the BBC.
The company confirmed it would be refunding passengers and has offered them a full cash refund or a 300 per cent return of the ticket value in an e-voucher.
Passengers had left Brussels at 8.52am local time and were due to arrive in London at 9.57am.
The frustrated travellers have taken to social media to vent their frustration.
Michael Andrews wrote on X: 'Stuck on the @Eurostar for 4.5 hours, stationary, toilets full, electricity off & absolutely boiling alive... They tweeted there would be a replacement train at 1.30, no sign.'
Approaching seven hours, we start walking to then be told there is STILL no sign of a replacement train? pic.twitter.com/axWRwlAaCE
— Alana (@alanaroberts13) July 6, 2025
Alana Roberts wrote: 'You waited over two and a half hours before even communicating this, now looking at four hours stuck on this train and still no replacement! There is no air, not even some water offered, staff should be coming carriage to carriage to give us verbal updates at the minimum.'
Ms Roberts tweeted again, this time a video of people walking along the tracks with their bags: 'Approaching seven hours, we start walking to then be told there is STILL no sign of a replacement train.'
A fellow passenger who only gave her names as Valentina wrote to Eurostar, as she complained about the heat and 'inhumane conditions'.
She said: 'I am on this train with two small children who are overheating! There are no toilets, there is no air, these are inhumane conditions. There is still no replacement.'
Ms Roberts went on to say: 'Now almost 15:00 and still nothing from you, people are feeling serious unwell at this point.'
After 6h on a broken-down Eurostar we cracked out the guitars to remind everybody #theOnlyWayIsUp pic.twitter.com/9Q0KmxB54W
— Stornoway (@StornowayBand) July 6, 2025
Passenger Edward Hardy, who hosts The Hardy Report political news podcast, posted a video showing Oxford band Stornoway provided some relief to travellers by playing music along the tracks.
Mr Hardy wrote: 'A band has started serenading stranded Eurostar passengers with a song titled Home.'
The indie folk band wrote on X: 'We cracked out the guitars to remind everybody #theOnlyWayIsUp.'
They named themselves after the Scottish town on the Hebridean Isle of Lewis, despite never having been there. They have since visited multiple times since 2010.
A Eurostar spokesman said: 'Earlier today, Eurostar train 9117, travelling from Brussels to London, came to a standstill between Lille and Calais due to a power failure, leaving the train without onboard electricity.
'To provide passengers with some comfort during the delay, train doors were opened to allow fresh air to circulate, and water was distributed.
'A rescue train was promptly dispatched from Brussels to carry out a complex transfer operation. This process, supported by local authorities and SNCF Réseau personnel on site, is taking longer than anticipated and is still ongoing.
'Eurostar teams are doing everything possible to ensure all affected passengers reach their final destination, London St Pancras, as soon as possible.
'We understand how difficult this experience has been and sincerely apologise for the disruption and discomfort caused. We are also extremely grateful for our passengers' patience and cooperation throughout.'