Journeys between Paris and London were met with a challenging day, as a flooded tunnel beneath the River Thames brought chaos to Eurostar services. A staggering 29 trains were cancelled, leaving countless travellers stranded with no prospect of resuming their journeys for the rest of the day.
The unprecedented flooding in the tunnel was a result of Storm Gerrit’s recent onslaught, which lashed the U.K. with fierce winds and relentless rain throughout the festive season. And it seems the tumultuous weather is not finished wreaking havoc just yet.
One voyager, Chris Dillashaw from San Antonio, Texas, expressed his dismay at the turn of events. Having looked forward to celebrating Christmas in Paris and New Year’s Eve in London, he and his family found themselves marooned at Gare du Nord, disheartened after receiving the disheartening news via email.
The situation was no better for Christina David and Georgina Benyamin from Sydney. Following their cancelled train from London to Paris – the final stop on their European tour, they found themselves with nowhere to go and no place to stay. Their dreams of a lavish hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower were dashed, and now they were scrambling to find accommodations for the night.
Eurostar expressed their regret at the situation, recognizing the importance of travellers being with their families at the end of the festive season and before the New Year. The company assured affected customers that they were working diligently to resolve the issues as swiftly as possible.
This isn’t the first time Eurostar services have been disrupted recently, as a strike by Eurotunnel staff just before Christmas added to the woes of holiday travellers.
And there’s more bad news on the horizon. The Met Office has forecasted more inclement weather for London and southern England, with high winds and rain expected to persist throughout the weekend. Gusts of up to 50 miles per hour are on the horizon, with coastal areas likely bearing the brunt of the strongest winds.
All in all, it’s been a challenging time for anyone attempting to cross the English Channel. Let’s hope the weather improves soon, so that everyone can return to their New Year’s celebrations and leave this travel chaos behind.
