International rail services between the continent and the UK, including Eurostar services between Brussels and London, were suspended for several hours on Tuesday due to a technical fault with overhead cables inside the Channel Tunnel. All Eurostar and LeShuttle services were suspended. Services gradually resumed from around 3pm.
Eurostar en LeShuttle services cancelled due to issues with overhead cables in the Channel Tunnel
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In a statement the international passenger rail operator Eurostar said that there were issues with overhead cable and a LeShuttle train that had broken down inside the Channel Tunnel. This meant that no services were able to pass through the tunnel. Initially it had seemed that the fault would only result in long delays. However, Eurostar then said that it was cancelling all trains to and from the UK.
LeShuttle, that carries vehicles through the Channel Tunnel between Calais and Folkstone said that it was suspending its service for 3 hours. The suspension of LeShuttle service caused major traffic issues on the British side of the tunnel with long queues of traffic in Folkstone itself and on the M20 motorway into the Kent town.
The company that opperates the tunnel, Getlink says that the technical issues have been resolved. However, it is still unclear when Eurostar services will resume and given the backlog of cars and trucks at either side of the tunnel those wishing to drive onto a LeShuttle train still face major delays. At 3:30pm on Tuesday LeShuttle reported a 6-hour wait for those wishing to use its service.
Find an alternative
Eurostar is advising its passengers either to postpone their trip and rebook or to ask for a refund. Many passengers at Brussels South station appear to be making alternative travel arrangements by using the Flixbus coach service. Flixbus carries its passengers to the UK via the Calais to Dover ferry service and is unaffected by the issues in the Channel Tunnel. Flixbus reports that all its coaches to the UK are currently fully booked.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Port of Dover has told the British public broadcaster BBC that the ferry companies have increased capacity on the Dover to Calais route.