Snow Breaks Eurostar Trains
Tens of thousands of passengers have been stranded or delayed due to Eurostar train breakdowns over the recent wintery weekend. Six train break downs have resulted in 55,000 travellers having their journeys disrupted.
Eurostar have reported that although their trains have been reliable for over 15 years the abnormally acute weather conditions in northern France have caused the problems that have been experienced. Eurostar have identified the flaw that has caused their trains to fail and they are taking steps to fix the issue.
It is reported that as many as 2000 passengers were trapped in the Channel tunnel on broken down trains. Some are reported to have spent as much as 16 hours confined in their trains below the English Channel. Many have reported a lack of information and no food and no water on the stranded trains. Some travellers abandoned their stranded trains and attempted to walk through the cold, dark tunnel which extends for 24 miles beneath the channel.
Although Eurostar have issued apologies and promised to pay refunds and compensation to travelers affected by the debacle many passengers are very unhappy with the way the situation has been managed. There have been reports of some passengers suffering panic attacks and some experiencing claustrophobia in the confined tunnel. Passengers have reported that there was no food, water and most importantly no up to date information from the train operator.
On Saturday as many as 31,000 ticket holders were forced to change their travel plans and on Sunday all services were cancelled resulting in a further 27,000 people being stranded.
Continuing bad weather has disrupted flights from many British airports. Weather forecasters have warned of further travel disruption as more snow is forecast this week and into the Christmas holidays. The Scottish Police have advised travelers to stay at home unless their journey is absolutely essential.
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