Flooded railway tunnels forced the cancelation of all services on Saturday linking Britain to Europe, operator Eurostar said.
Travelers hoping to journey from London to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam for New Year faced disappointment as Eurostar announced the cancellation of services due to the temporary closure of part of the track near London. The closure was attributed to the flooding of railway tunnels near the Ebbsfleet International station in Kent, southern England.
Expressing her dismay, 23-year-old Alina, who was aiming to travel from London to Amsterdam, shared her frustration, saying, “I am just devastated. I’ve just had a little cry. I just want to get home. It’s New Year’s Eve tomorrow.”
Sander Blom, 64, from Amsterdam, described the situation as “kind of chaos” but intended to make the most of the setback, planning to enjoy a few extra days in London despite the added expense.
In addition to Eurostar, UK train operator Southwestern Railways also announced the cancellation of its high-speed services to and from London’s St Pancras International station.
This marks the second time Eurostar services have been impacted over Christmas, following a last-minute strike earlier in December that caused significant disruption. The latest cancellations coincide with the UK preparing for severe weather, including heavy snow and rain. Flooded railway tunnels
The UK’s Meteorological Office issued yellow weather warnings for various regions, with southern England expecting strong and gusty winds, potentially causing travel disruptions and service interruptions. Power losses were also possible. In Scotland, a yellow warning for rain and snow was issued, with meteorologists anticipating disruptions due to a period of sleet and snow, turning to rain on Saturday.