Eurostar passengers have faced disruptions for a second consecutive day following two tragic deaths on the railway track in France, compounded by the theft of vital cables. The high-speed train operator has advised travelers to either cancel or postpone their journeys scheduled for Wednesday, as a significant number of services from London, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam are either delayed or cancelled.
The incidents began on Tuesday when two individuals lost their lives on the LGV Nord high-speed rail line linking Lille and Paris, resulting in the temporary closure of the line. Eurostar acknowledged that the disruptions caused by this incident were still affecting services the following day, increased by a theft of approximately 600 meters of copper cables on the same railway line near Lille.
Due to this theft, trains are being rerouted, leading to extended journey times for travelers. The operator reported ongoing last-minute cancellations and significant delays on routes to and from London. Eurostar has implemented a policy allowing affected passengers to change their travel arrangements without incurring charges or to request a full refund.
In a statement, Eurostar expressed its apologies for the inconvenience caused to its customers, stating, "We are working closely with French authorities and infrastructure teams to manage the situation and safely restore services." Currently, one track has reopened, enabling some trains to operate in both directions until repairs are fully completed, which is expected around 16:00 BST. Meanwhile, passengers aboard delayed trains are being provided with water, and stations are noted to be particularly busy.
