LONDON/PARIS(Correspondent LP): Thousands of Eurostar passengers were left stranded in France and Britain on Thursday, as a strike by Channel Tunnel workers and strong winds disrupted the train service.
The strike, which started at 11am, forced Eurostar to cancel 13 trains between London and Paris until 3.30pm. Some trains that had already departed were stopped outside the tunnel and had to return to their origin stations.
Passengers vented their frustration on social media, saying they had missed their connections and plans for Christmas. Eurostar offered them the options of exchanging, cancelling, or refunding their tickets.
A statement on the Le Shuttle website, which operates the car and freight service through the tunnel, said all its services were temporarily suspended due to the industrial action. It apologised for the delay and promised to provide updates.
Meanwhile, strong winds damaged the overhead electric wires between Milton Keynes and Watford, blocking all lines between those stations. This affected the domestic railway network in Britain, causing delays and cancellations for many travellers.
