All Eurostar services have been abruptly cancelled for Tuesday 30 December 2025, plunging festive travel plans into chaos after a major incident in the Channel Tunnel.
The cross-Channel operator has taken the drastic step of asking customers not to travel at all today. The disruption stems from a dual failure: a significant problem with the overhead power supply within the tunnel itself, compounded by a separate breakdown of a Le Shuttle train, which carries vehicles between Folkestone and Calais.
Passengers Stranded as Services Halted
At London St Pancras International, the main UK terminal for Eurostar, passengers were informed that all services to and from the station were cancelled for the entire day. Travellers have been advised by the company to rebook their journeys for another date.
The scale of the disruption was visually captured in Folkestone, Kent, where long queues of vehicles formed, waiting to board the Le Shuttle service at the Channel Tunnel entrance. A photograph from the scene, shared on social media, showed the extent of the backlog.
Causes of the Cross-Channel Chaos
Eurostar confirmed the twin causes of the travel meltdown. The primary issue is a fault with the critical overhead power lines that supply electricity to trains running through the 31-mile undersea link. This was exacerbated by a mechanical failure of a Le Shuttle train, further blocking the vital transport artery.
Such simultaneous failures are rare and represent a severe test for the tunnel's operational resilience, especially during the busy post-Christmas travel period. Engineers are understood to be working on site to resolve the problems, but no estimated time for a full resumption of services has been provided.
The disruption highlights the fragility of this key piece of national infrastructure and the widespread impact a single point of failure can have on international travel and freight.
Travel Advice and Passenger Fallout
With all services cancelled, the advice for affected passengers is clear: do not attempt to travel to St Pancras or any Eurostar terminal today. Ticket holders are being directed to the Eurostar website and customer service channels to rebook their travel or seek refunds.
The incident will have caused significant knock-on effects for thousands of people, disrupting family reunions, holiday returns, and business travel at the peak of the winter season. The long queues for the alternative Le Shuttle service also indicate substantial pressure on the remaining cross-Channel options.
