Power and a stalled vehicle shuttle disrupted traffic through the Channel Tunnel, prompting Eurostar to suspend services to and from London during the busy holiday period. The outage was caused by overhead power supply issues and a failed LeShuttle train between Calais and Folkestone. Eurotunnel said the fault began overnight Monday and technical crews are working to restore service, with traffic expected to resume gradually on Tuesday afternoon. Passengers are advised to rebook or seek refunds.
Power Fault and Stalled LeShuttle Train Halt Channel Tunnel — Eurostar Suspends London Services
Passengers queue to enter the Eurotunnel site in Folkestone in Kent, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
PARIS (AP) — Power problems in the Channel Tunnel, compounded by a stalled LeShuttle vehicle train, disrupted rail traffic on Tuesday and led Eurostar to suspend its services to and from London during the busy end-of-year travel period.
Eurostar said the interruption was caused by "overhead power supply issues in the Channel Tunnel" and that the situation was worsened by a failed train operated by LeShuttle, the service that carries cars and other vehicles by rail between Calais in France and Folkestone in the U.K.
FILE - A train coming from London leaves the Northbound Channel tunnel in Calais, northern France, on Jan. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Impact And Timeline
Eurotunnel, the tunnel operator, said the power fault began overnight on Monday in a portion of the tunnel, affecting both passenger trains and vehicle shuttle movements in both directions. Eurostar announced its London services are "suspended until further notice" and advised affected passengers to rebook.
Eurotunnel said a technical intervention was required and that teams were already working on repairs. Traffic was expected to resume gradually on Tuesday afternoon, though officials warned that delays could continue as crews restore power and clear the failed vehicle train.
Advice For Travellers
Passengers booked on Eurostar are advised to check the operator's website or contact customer service to rebook or obtain refunds. Travelers planning to use the Channel Tunnel by car should expect delays and monitor updates from Eurotunnel before departing for ports or terminals.
Official statement: "A technical intervention is required, which is currently underway. Our teams are working to restore the situation as quickly as possible." — Eurotunnel
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