Eurostar and Eurotunnel services have resumed through the Channel Tunnel after engineers repaired a major overhead-power malfunction that paralysed cross-Channel rail traffic on 30 December. The fault, which struck during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, left several trains without power, lighting or heating for up to 11 hours and forced thousands of passengers to sleep on stranded trains or in terminals.
Getlink, the tunnel operator, confirmed in an early-morning statement on 31 December that the 50-kilometre under-sea link was back at "full capacity." Eurostar, however, cautioned that rolling stock and crew were out of position and that short-notice cancellations and multi-hour delays could continue for at least 24 hours while timetables are re-balanced. Two London–Paris services and one Brussels–London rotation were cancelled outright on 31 December, and many others left with extended dwell times to ease congestion in terminals.
For mobility managers, the disruption is a reminder of the fragility of Europe’s most heavily used international rail corridor. Eurostar carries a high proportion of corporate travellers between Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and London because its city-centre to city-centre journey times compare favourably with air. Companies moving staff or critical parts between UK and French facilities should review contingency plans that include alternative air routes via Paris-Orly, Lille, or Brussels, as well as ferry and air-freight options.
![Channel Tunnel re-opens after power failure but Eurostar warns of lingering delays]()
For teams suddenly rerouting via air—as many companies did during the outage—border documentation can become an unexpected bottleneck. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/france/) lets travellers and mobility coordinators check Schengen and UK visa requirements in minutes and arrange expedited processing, ensuring that last-minute itinerary changes do not stall at passport control.
While Eurostar tickets are protected under the EU-UK Rail Passenger Rights Regulation, seat availability on replacement services is extremely tight during the holiday peak. Travellers forced to overnight in Paris or London should keep receipts; Eurostar has indicated it will reimburse “reasonable” hotel and meal costs. Cargo flows were also disrupted: Eurotunnel’s Le Shuttle freight saw queues of up to six hours, impacting just-in-time supply chains for automotive and perishables.
French and UK authorities have opened a joint investigation into the root cause of the power failure, which follows smaller incidents in August and October. Although terrorism has been ruled out, business-continuity experts note that the ageing overhead line equipment is due for phased replacement from late 2026; further planned engineering closures may affect night-time freight slots.
Getlink, the tunnel operator, confirmed in an early-morning statement on 31 December that the 50-kilometre under-sea link was back at "full capacity." Eurostar, however, cautioned that rolling stock and crew were out of position and that short-notice cancellations and multi-hour delays could continue for at least 24 hours while timetables are re-balanced. Two London–Paris services and one Brussels–London rotation were cancelled outright on 31 December, and many others left with extended dwell times to ease congestion in terminals.
For mobility managers, the disruption is a reminder of the fragility of Europe’s most heavily used international rail corridor. Eurostar carries a high proportion of corporate travellers between Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and London because its city-centre to city-centre journey times compare favourably with air. Companies moving staff or critical parts between UK and French facilities should review contingency plans that include alternative air routes via Paris-Orly, Lille, or Brussels, as well as ferry and air-freight options.
For teams suddenly rerouting via air—as many companies did during the outage—border documentation can become an unexpected bottleneck. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/france/) lets travellers and mobility coordinators check Schengen and UK visa requirements in minutes and arrange expedited processing, ensuring that last-minute itinerary changes do not stall at passport control.
While Eurostar tickets are protected under the EU-UK Rail Passenger Rights Regulation, seat availability on replacement services is extremely tight during the holiday peak. Travellers forced to overnight in Paris or London should keep receipts; Eurostar has indicated it will reimburse “reasonable” hotel and meal costs. Cargo flows were also disrupted: Eurotunnel’s Le Shuttle freight saw queues of up to six hours, impacting just-in-time supply chains for automotive and perishables.
French and UK authorities have opened a joint investigation into the root cause of the power failure, which follows smaller incidents in August and October. Although terrorism has been ruled out, business-continuity experts note that the ageing overhead line equipment is due for phased replacement from late 2026; further planned engineering closures may affect night-time freight slots.
