The holiday travel plans of hundreds of people were disrupted overnight after Eurostar canceled train services to and from London because a tunnel under the Thames was flooded.
Large crowds of travelers trying to cross the English Channel were stranded at St Pancras International station in London and Gare du Nord in Paris. Eurostar, which runs services from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, said it had canceled all 41 trains scheduled for the day because of the flooding.
Engineers working in the tunnel said water levels were dropping. The volume of water in the tunnel was “unprecedented”, they said.
The UK has been battered by strong, gusty winds and heavy rain brought by Storm Gerrit throughout the holiday period. More storms and travel disruption is expected during the last weekend of the year.
Many travelers stuck in the train stations sat on the floors and suitcases, betting to find accommodation at the last minute or alternative plans.
Chris Dillashaw, of San Antonio, Texas, was among many whose New Year’s Eve plans were ruined by the travel chaos.
“Our whole family is here … We celebrated Christmas in Paris and then we went to London for our New Year’s plans,” he told The Associated Press as he waited at Gare du Nord. “It’s quite disappointing to find out by email what happened.”
Christina David, 25, and Georgina Benyamin, 26, from Sydney, said they have nowhere to stay after discovering their train from London to Paris – their last stop on a weeks-long European tour – is been cancelled.
“We paid for an expensive hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower,” Benyamin said. “Now we have to book a hotel to stay the night here. We don’t know where to go, we don’t have where to stay.”
Eurostar said it was “extremely sorry for the unexpected issues affecting our customers and services”.
“We understand that this is a vital time to return home at the end of the festive season and before the New Year,” the company said.
Eurostar services were also disrupted just before Christmas due to a staff strike at Eurotunnel.
The UK weather, the Met Office, said more strong winds and rain are expected to hit London and the south of England.
Gusts of up to 80 km/h are expected, with the strongest winds likely near coastal areas.
