Eurostar’s real-time traffic portal posted multiple red alerts on 17 January, and the operator confirmed on 19 January that timetable disruptions on the Paris–London–Amsterdam corridor will persist until at least 31 January. Engineering works on the Dutch high-speed line, a signalling upgrade at Paris-Gare-du-Nord and bottlenecks at Lille’s juxtaposed border-control hall have reduced track capacity, forcing cut-backs in daily frequencies and delays of up to one hour.
The timing is awkward: winter storms have already nudged many executives from air to rail. Eurostar carried 11 million passengers in 2025, 28 % of them business travellers. Missed meetings and broken flight connections are now likely, prompting travel managers to book fully flexible fares and pad itineraries by 90 minutes.
If unexpected diversions mean entering the Schengen Area via a different country or extending your stay, VisaHQ can expedite the necessary visas or passport renewals and provide up-to-date guidance on France’s new biometric exit procedures. Their Paris team handles everything online—see https://www.visahq.com/france/ for details.
![Eurostar Warns of Paris-Bound Delays and Cancellations Through 31 January]()
Under Eurostar Conditions 10 and 11, passengers delayed more than 60 minutes may claim partial refunds or re-routing, but hotel expenses are reimbursed only if the rail company arranges the stay. Relocation providers moving pets or household goods via Eurotunnel are being urged to secure overnight contingencies because LeShuttle truck slots are also tight.
At Gare du Nord, France and the UK are piloting an “EES Lite” biometric exit scheme ahead of the Schengen Entry/Exit System’s full launch in April 2026. The test currently adds about four minutes per passenger—significant when departures bunch during service-recovery windows.
Network Rail and Infrabel say engineering work on the Belgian stretch will finish on 6 February, after which Eurostar hopes to restore 17 daily Paris–London rotations. Until then, firms may need temporary policy waivers allowing premium-economy rail or last-minute air tickets.
The timing is awkward: winter storms have already nudged many executives from air to rail. Eurostar carried 11 million passengers in 2025, 28 % of them business travellers. Missed meetings and broken flight connections are now likely, prompting travel managers to book fully flexible fares and pad itineraries by 90 minutes.
If unexpected diversions mean entering the Schengen Area via a different country or extending your stay, VisaHQ can expedite the necessary visas or passport renewals and provide up-to-date guidance on France’s new biometric exit procedures. Their Paris team handles everything online—see https://www.visahq.com/france/ for details.
Under Eurostar Conditions 10 and 11, passengers delayed more than 60 minutes may claim partial refunds or re-routing, but hotel expenses are reimbursed only if the rail company arranges the stay. Relocation providers moving pets or household goods via Eurotunnel are being urged to secure overnight contingencies because LeShuttle truck slots are also tight.
At Gare du Nord, France and the UK are piloting an “EES Lite” biometric exit scheme ahead of the Schengen Entry/Exit System’s full launch in April 2026. The test currently adds about four minutes per passenger—significant when departures bunch during service-recovery windows.
Network Rail and Infrabel say engineering work on the Belgian stretch will finish on 6 February, after which Eurostar hopes to restore 17 daily Paris–London rotations. Until then, firms may need temporary policy waivers allowing premium-economy rail or last-minute air tickets.
