Passengers stuck on Eurostar with no electricity

Passengers said they were "restless, hungry and disappointed"

Passengers spent more than seven hours stuck on board a Eurostar train at Folkestone with no electricity, food or working toilets.

Eurostar said the train was now on its way back to London.

The firm said an overhead cable fell on the 08:16 GMT train, travelling from London to Amsterdam, at the entrance of the Channel Tunnel.

A spokesperson said about "700 passengers and crew on board are confirmed to be safe."

Jessica Chambers, from Essex, was supposed to be travelling to Amsterdam for her friend's birthday.

Speaking to the BBC while she was stuck on board, she said: "It truly feels like an emergency situation but there’s no communication from staff."

Eurostar said on X that it was not possible to make customer announcements "due to a lack of power on board".

At about 15:15 GMT, Ms Chambers said the train was getting dark as the lights were out due to the lack of power.

"Following a complicated situation due to the position of the train and the track infrastructure, it’s meant that certain safety procedures had to be adhered to before we could move the train," said Eurostar.

Customers said they could not flush the toilets and sent photos showing that they were completely blocked.

Rebecca Morris, from Horsham, West Sussex, said her group of six had been given water but no food.

She said the situation on board was "just dreadful" and passengers were "freezing cold".

Ms Morris and her colleagues were planning to travel to Brussels to see the Christmas markets.

The Eurostar spokesperson said all affected passengers would be met in London with refreshments and would receive enhanced compensation.

"Eurostar are sorry for issues caused that customers have experienced today," they added.

BBC reporter Hannah Roe, who is in Brussels, said there was also disruption there.

"Passengers have reported delays of hours, with many only just boarding trains they’ve been waiting for since the morning," she said.

She said many passengers had tickets cancelled and rebooked onto different seats to make room for those supposed to be on earlier, cancelled, trains.

Eurostar have been contacted for comment.

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