Eurostar cancellations continue after cables stolen from track
The country's railway operator said more than 600 metres of line had been 'stolen or severed' south of Lille.
Six trips between London and Paris – three in each direction – had been cancelled on Wednesday morning, as well as delays to Brussels-bound trains.
SNCF, in charge of France's high-speed rail service, has sent more than a dozen workers to the area to solve the issue.
Juliette Clement, the company's spokesman, said: 'Trains are being redirected via secondary routes, which increases travel times.
' Eurostar advises those who were supposed to travel today to postpone their trip, with free exchanges and refunds available.'
Passengers were left stranded for hours on Tuesday and Wednesday morning after two people were struck by trains in separate incidents between Lille and Paris.
Journeys were significantly delayed or cancelled in both directions between London St Pancras International and Gare Du Nord in Paris on Tuesday evening.
Three trains were also cancelled on Wednesday.
Passengers described being sat on stationary trains for hours before returning to Paris and having to sleep at Gare du Nord. Photos showed large queues at both railway stations, while stranded passengers demanded refunds on social media.
One passenger attempting the journey from Paris to London wrote on X: '3pm check-in, sit on train for nearly six hours (all food runs out etc), finally go back to Gare du Nord and 1,000 passengers dumped in Paris with no hotels (cheapest room €2000 and they refund only up to €300). Disastrous.'
French media reported that the first incident took place between Lille and Paris at around 5pm. The second occurred between Lille and Arras, ICI France reported.
In an update on Wednesday morning, Eurostar warned its customers to expect 'difficult' travel conditions with crowded carriages, delays and several cancellations.
Responding to a passenger's query on X, the operator said to 'expect delays' from backlogs after train sets never made it to their destination.
'Also trains will be crowded with passengers from all the cancelled trains yesterday.'
You can expect delays, and some trains will be cancelled because some trainsets never made it to their destination to ensure a departure the next day. Also trains will be crowded with passengers from all the cancelled trains yesterday.
— Eurostar (@Eurostar) June 25, 2025
One train leaving London at 2.31pm on Tuesday was supposed to arrive in Paris at 5.57pm but was delayed for four hours and was not expected to get there until almost 10pm.
Millie Race said in a post on X: 'Hey, we have been on the ES 9032 from London to Paris for seven hours; still stopped and not sure when we will be able to make it to Paris. Will we be able to get full compensation for our journey?'
Naomi Sanger, from Snodland, told Kent Online she boarded the 4.31pm at Gare Du Nord but it never departed. She has been left stranded at the station.
She wrote: 'The supplies of food and drinks are running out, air con is not working, coffee machine broken as is the card machine! Total joke.'
And for the passengers stuck at Garde Du Nord on the trains, the supplies of food and drinks are running out, air con is not working, coffee machine broken as is the card machine!! Total joke
— Naomi (@naomisanger) June 24, 2025
It is the second time in less than a week that Eurostar services have been disrupted after a person was struck by a train.
On June 18, a dozen Eurostar trains from London to Paris were delayed or cancelled after a person was hit on tracks in France.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Paris residents fight overtourism and `Disneyfication' of beloved Montmartre neighborhood
PARIS (AP) - When Olivier Baroin moved into an apartment in Montmartre about 15 years ago, it felt like he was living in a village in the heart of Paris. Not anymore. Stores for residents are disappearing, along with the friendly atmosphere, he says. In their place are hordes of people taking selfies, shops selling tourist trinkets, and cafés whose seating spills into the narrow, cobbled streets as overtourism takes its toll. Baroin has had enough. He put his apartment up for sale after local streets were designated pedestrian-only while accommodating the growing number of visitors. "I told myself that I had no other choice but to leave since, as I have a disability, it´s even more complicated when you can no longer take your car, when you have to call a taxi from morning to night," he told The Associated Press. From Venice to Barcelona to Amsterdam, European cities are struggling to absorb surging numbers of tourists. Some residents in one of Paris' most popular tourist neighborhoods are now pushing back. A black banner strung between two balconies in Montmartre reads, in English: "Behind the postcard: locals mistreated by the Mayor." Another, in French, says: "Montmartre residents resisting." Atop the hill where the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur crowns the city's skyline, residents lament what they call the "Disneyfication" of the once-bohemian slice of Paris. The basilica says it now attracts up to 11 million people a year - even more than the Eiffel Tower - while daily life in the neighborhood has been overtaken by tuk-tuks, tour groups, photo queues and short-term rentals. "Now, there are no more shops at all, there are no more food shops, so everything must be delivered," said 56-year-old Baroin, a member of a residents' protest group called Vivre a Montmartre, or Living in Montmartre. The unrest echoes tensions across town at the Louvre Museum, where staff in June staged a brief wildcat strike over chronic overcrowding, understaffing and deteriorating conditions. The Louvre logged 8.7 million visitors in 2024, more than double what its infrastructure was designed to handle. Paris, a city of just over 2 million residents if you count its sprawling suburbs, welcomed 48.7 million tourists in 2024, a 2% increase from the previous year. Sacré-Coeur, the most visited monument in France in 2024, and the surrounding Montmartre neighborhood have turned into what some locals call an open-air theme park. Local staples like butchers, bakeries and grocers are vanishing, replaced by ice-cream stalls, bubble-tea vendors and souvenir T-shirt stands. Paris authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Visitors seemed largely to be enjoying the packed streets on a sunny Tuesday this week. "For the most part, all of Paris has been pretty busy, but full of life, for sure," said American tourist Adam Davidson. "Coming from Washington, D.C., which is a lively city as well, I would say this is definitely full of life to a different degree for sure." In Barcelona, thousands have taken to the streets this year, some wielding water pistols, demanding limits on cruise ships and short-term tourist rentals. Venice now charges an entry fee for day-trippers and caps visitor numbers. And in Athens, authorities are imposing a daily limit on visitors to the Acropolis, to protect the ancient monument from record-breaking tourist crowds. Urban planners warn that historic neighborhoods risk becoming what some critics call "zombie cities" - picturesque but lifeless, their residents displaced by short-term visitors. Paris is trying to mitigate the problems by cracking down on short-term rentals and unlicensed properties. But tourism pressures are growing. By 2050, the world´s population is projected to reach nearly 10 billion, according to United Nations estimates. With the global middle class expanding, low-cost flights booming and digital platforms guiding travelers to the same viral landmarks, many more visitors are expected in iconic cities like Paris. The question now, residents say, is whether any space is left for those who call it home.
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I sobbed outside Disney as we were turned away - we've still not got £650 refund'
Sue Batters paid more than £3,000 to treat her two daughters and five grandsons to a three-day break in Disneyland Paris - but things went wrong on the final day A grandmother was left in floods of tears when her dream family holiday to Disney turned into a nightmare after their park tickets were unexpectedly cancelled. Sue Batters, 68, splashed out over £3,000 for a three-day Disneyland Paris trip for her two daughters and five grandsons. The package deal, booked through Times and Travels UK, included Eurostar travel, hotel accommodation, and entry to the two main theme parks, Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios. However, the family's joy was short-lived when on the final day of their holiday, their Disneyland passes were unexpectedly cancelled. Sue, from Avery Way, Allhallows, on the Hoo Peninsula, said: "I was in tears. My grandchildren kept asking me why I was crying. What are you supposed to do when you have five children who want to go to Disney? They did not understand why we could not get in." READ MORE: Inside 'saddest ever' Grand Designs house that tore family apart as it FINALLY sells The London-based firm has since apologised and confirmed that the day passes were cancelled by its supplier without notice. Despite initial scepticism about the package deal, which she discovered on Facebook, Sue had done her due diligence, checking the company's website and reviews, all of which were positive, and ensuring its holidays were protected by a professional trade body. She then decided to proceed and reserve the getaway for late May, including herself, her daughters Rebecca and Hayley, plus her grandsons Archie, Alfie, Freddie, Stanley, and Parker. Everything was perfect until the final day when their passes ceased functioning while attempting to enter the Walt Disney Studios Park. The party of eight was informed by personnel that their passes had been revoked and they should telephone Times and Travels UK for help. After attempting to reach the travel company all morning, the family were eventually informed at 1pm that the tickets had been cancelled two days prior to their departure due to a £497 discrepancy. Sue, who works as a semi-retired driver, maintained that she had settled the complete cost of the holiday and ultimately discovered there had been an "admin error" which resulted in the cancellation. She continued: "This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip. I spent all my savings on a magical holiday, but this ruined it. I was meant to be a lovely trip away for the family, but instead we were standing outside Disney crying with five children." She was recommended to purchase fresh passes at the venue, which she did for £650, with assurances they would be reimbursed. Sue has yet to receive the reimbursement, but Times and Travels UK told her they were working to process the repayment and apologised for the delay in doing so. According to its terms and conditions, its package deals are financially protected, and it takes responsibility for its suppliers under the Package Travel Regulations. Sue revealed that the company has proposed a payment of £459 followed by two instalments of £100 each, but she has rejected this, insisting on a one-time full payment. The grandmother expressed her concern: "What if someone did not have the money to buy the tickets at the door? Not everyone has that option, and it is not a small amount that you might have extra. "I always book holidays with the likes of TUI and Jet2, but I checked it out and it looked fine. I did have a bad feeling, so I booked it on the credit card and made sure I was protected. In the back of my mind, I was worried." Times and Travels UK has yet to respond to a request for comment. However, in response to Sue's review on Trustpilot posted on 7 July, the firm explained that the day passes were cancelled by its supplier without prior notice. It added: "We acknowledge this was frustrating and we sincerely apologise for the stress it caused. As soon as you made us aware, we investigated and confirmed that you will be refunded for the cost of the cancelled tickets. This promise still stands, and we are working to process it. "We have never refused your refund, and at no point did we say we would not take responsibility. We understand the delay has caused frustration, and we truly are sorry." The firm stated: "Times and Travels UK is a registered travel business. We have helped hundreds of families and couples travel to Disney, Asia, and beyond, and we take our reputation seriously. "Our small team is still working through a backlog due to a recent internal change in management, but no one has been ignored or left behind intentionally, and every pending case is being resolved. We hope you will allow us to complete the process and make this right." Based on Trustpilot data, the vast majority of customer reviews for Times and Travels UK award the company five stars.
The Independent
9 hours ago
- The Independent
Locals hit out at the ‘Disneyfication' of this Paris suburb as overtourism strikes again
Montmartre, once a charming Parisian village, is losing its soul to overtourism, according to long-time resident Olivier Baroin, who is now selling his home in protest. When Baroin moved into his Montmartre apartment some 15 years ago, he cherished its village-like feel in the heart of Paris. Today, that sentiment has vanished. He laments the disappearance of local shops and the friendly atmosphere, replaced by "hordes of people shooting selfies, shops selling tourist trinkets and cafés whose seating spills into the narrow cobbled streets" as overtourism takes its toll. The final straw came as local streets were designated pedestrian-only to accommodate the ever-increasing visitor numbers, prompting Baroin to put his apartment up for sale. 'I told myself that I had no other choice but to leave since, as I have a disability, it's even more complicated when you can no longer take your car, when you have to call a taxi from morning to night," he told The Associated Press. From Venice to Barcelona to Amsterdam, European cities are struggling to absorb surging numbers of tourists. Some residents in one of Paris ' most popular neighborhoods for tourists are now pushing back. A black banner strung between two balconies in Montmartre reads, in English: 'Behind the postcard: locals mistreated by the Mayor.' Another, in French, says: 'Montmartre residents resisting.' Atop the hill where the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur crowns the city's skyline, residents lament what they call the 'Disneyfication' of the once-bohemian slice of Paris. The basilica says it now attracts up to 11 million people a year — even more than the Eiffel Tower — while daily life in the neighborhood has been overtaken by tuk-tuks, tour groups, photo queues and short-term rentals. 'Now, there are no more shops at all, there are no more food shops, so everything must be delivered,' said 56-year-old Baroin, a member of a residents' protest group called Vivre a Montmartre, or Living in Montmartre. The unrest echoes tensions across town at the Louvre Museum, where staff in June staged a brief wildcat strike over chronic overcrowding, understaffing and deteriorating conditions. The Louvre logged 8.7 million visitors in 2024, more than double what its infrastructure was designed to handle. Paris, a city of just over 2 million residents if you count its sprawling suburbs, welcomed 48.7 million tourists in 2024, a 2% increase from the previous year. Sacré-Cœur, the most visited monument in France in 2024, and the surrounding Montmartre neighborhood have turned into what some locals call an open-air theme park. Local staples like butchers, bakeries and grocers are vanishing, replaced by ice-cream stalls, bubble-tea vendors and souvenir T-shirt stands. Paris authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Visitors seemed largely to be enjoying the packed streets on a sunny Tuesday this week. 'For the most part, all of Paris has been pretty busy, but full of life, for sure," said American tourist Adam Davidson. "Coming from Washington, D.C., which is a lively city as well, I would say this is definitely full of life to a different degree for sure.' In Barcelona, thousands have taken to the streets this year, some wielding water pistols, demanding limits on cruise ships and short-term tourist rentals. Venice now charges an entry fee for day-trippers and caps visitor numbers. And in Athens, authorities are imposing a daily limit on visitors to the Acropolis, to protect the ancient monument from record-breaking tourist crowds. Urban planners warn that historic neighborhoods risk becoming what some critics call 'zombie cities' — picturesque but lifeless, their residents displaced by short-term visitors. Paris is trying to mitigate the problems by cracking down on short term rentals and unlicensed properties. But tourism pressures are growing. By 2050, the world's population is projected to reach nearly 10 billion, according to United Nations estimates. With the global middle class expanding, low-cost flights booming and digital platforms guiding travelers to the same viral landmarks, many more visitors are expected in iconic cities like Paris. The question now, residents say, is whether any space is left for those who call it home.
