Eurostar Passengers Set To Finally Take Seats | Eurostar Trains Failed

The first passengers stranded when Eurostar trains failed because of "fluffy snow" should finally take their seats today after three days of cancellations.

Snow got into the electric system of a number of trains trapping more than 2,000 people in the Channel Tunnel on Friday.

Thousands more were stuck either side of the crossing when Eurostar announced it was suspending services because of the malfunction.

Eurostar chief executive Richard Brown has said he is "very, very sorry" about the breakdowns and the fix is being tested.

A limited service is being resumed for passengers who had tickets to travel on December 19 and 20.

The company is then planning to work through the remaining ticket holders over the coming days.



A statement from Eurostar said: "Eurostar will be resuming a restricted service from Tuesday 22 December. Trains will depart from 07.30 to 18.00.

"We continue to strongly advise customers whose journeys are not essential not to travel and to change their tickets for travel on a later date or have their tickets refunded.

"Only customers who hold a ticket that was originally for travel on Saturday 19 or Sunday 20 December will be eligible for travel on Tuesday 22 December.

"Customers holding tickets for Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 December will be eligible for travel on Wednesday 23 December. Customers holding tickets for Wednesday 23 or Thursday 24 December will be eligible for travel on Thursday 24 December.

"Customers are advised not to attempt to travel independently via the channel ports or the Channel Tunnel unless they have confirmed bookings."

The weather the 186mph trains were put through in northern France was described as "unprecedented" by Mr Brown and the worst in the company's 15 year history.

The commercial director of Eurostar, Nick Mercer, has explained why the trains failed.

"It seems to be a strange combination of factors. It was the amount of snow, which was higher than we experienced before, it was lighter than normal, fluffier, and the temperature inside the tunnel and the humidity was higher than normal," he said.

An inquiry into the fiasco has been set up and the team will report directly to Transport Minister Sadiq Khan.