More problems for Eurostar services

A report into the Christmas week breakdown of Eurostar services is due any day soon, but more problems occurred yesterday on some of their trains. It has been put down to a track problem why three trains were halted from entering the Channel Tunnel and two more services did not leave St Pancras Station. Engineers struggled to fix the fault and delays were up to two hours for some hopeful travellers.

In December services were suspended for three days after severe weather conditions left people trapped in the tunnel and not getting home for an extra 20 hours. It caused chaos as commuters and holiday passengers tried to make their way to and from France. It was blamed on ice that had formed in the extreme cold conditions and them melting once inside the warmer tunnel. Eurostar struggled to clear the backlog of passenger before Christmas Day, when they were not operating.

Some of the passengers decided enough was enough and got off the train at Ebbsfleet and went back to London. The delays had a knock-on effect for most of the morning with services from France to England also affected. In the report, due out today, the train operator is expected to be heavily criticised for not being prepared to handle the extreme weather that can affect the route. One of the major problems passengers complained about was the lack of communication with Eurostar staff as to what was going on. Others said supplies of water and food quickly run out and passengers had to force doors open to try and get some fresh air into the carriages.