Latest news with #passengerstranded
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
West Cumbria rail replacement bus disruption 'unacceptable'
Calls have been made to address "unacceptable" issues with a rail replacement service that has left passengers is running buses instead of trains between Workington and Sellafield in West Cumbria after a survey found issues with the tunnel floor at buses cannot run through Braystones and Nethertown, Northern said, leaving the villages without a service and other passengers complaining about missing and delayed MacAlister, Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington, wrote to Northern asking it to address the issues quickly. A spokesperson for Northern and Network Rail apologised, saying: "We understand how frustrating this disruption is." MacAlister's letter said: "I have had reports of some buses not turning up, others severely delayed, some not stopping at scheduled stations, leaving people stranded."He added some drivers were allowing dogs, while others were not, causing confusion for said: "The confusion and disruption is unacceptable, especially as this is going to continue for most of the year." 'Urgent changes needed' Northern said it planned to run replacement buses between Sellafield and Workington until 10 11 August, the buses would run between the nuclear site and and Network Rail said: "From Monday, trains will run to Whitehaven on the northern side of the tunnel, and we are looking at the options available to be able to run trains to Corkickle on the other side."But MacAlister said he had been told by "experienced engineers" there was no reason for such a large railway closure and he wanted to see just the section between Whitehaven and Corkickle closed, with buses running between the stations. He asked the rail firm to give its "urgent attention" to implementing changes so that buses are only needed for the shorter route, meaning Braystones and Nethertown would no longer be "isolated".Network Rail carried out survey work last week, ahead of a planned three-week closure from 30 August to replace tracks and carry out drainage of the line had been affected by contaminated water flowing from abandoned mines through Bransty railway tunnel and discharging into the harbour at Whitehaven, causing the water to turn the survey engineers discovered further repairs to the tunnel floor were Rail said this would likely mean a delay to the planned work. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Times of Oman
08-07-2025
- Times of Oman
SalamAir cancels Calicut and Sialkot flights
Muscat: Some passengers were left stranded at the Muscat International Airport after SalamAir cancelled Calicut and Sialkot flights. According to the Muscat International Airport, Muscat-Sialkot (OV 508) and Muscat Calicut (OV 774) were cancelled. 'Our Muscat-Calicut flight was cancelled suddenly without any information on Sunday,' one of the passengers complained. Another passenger said that he was forced to buy another ticket on a different airline. 'This caused me a huge loss of money and I also lost my extra baggage allowance which I had booked with Salam Air,' he complained.
Times
06-07-2025
- Times
Eurostar passengers stranded for hours in France on London-bound train
About 800 passengers were stranded for nearly five hours near Calais after a Eurostar train from Brussels to London suffered an electrical breakdown on Sunday. Passengers complained of a lack of information after the train stopped near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel at Guines. Air conditioning went off and lavatories were blocked up. A passenger posted online: 'They've said it's coming at 1pm, but nothing. Conditions aren't great — paramedics are on board and triaging people. There's no toilets. Zero communication from staff on board. None. The only info we get is from Twitter.' There were complaints after delays to the replacement service Eurostar apologised and offered customers a full refund. It said the train had stopped because of a power failure and a rescue train had been promptly dispatched to collect passengers. The 'complex transfer operation' to the new train was 'taking longer than anticipated'.
Telegraph
06-07-2025
- Telegraph
Eurostar passengers evacuate on to tracks after hours-long breakdown
Passengers have been left stranded for seven hours after a Eurostar train broke down. Footage on social media shows dozens of passengers walking next to the tracks hours after the London-bound train from Brussels stopped between Lille and Calais in northern France because of a power failure. The doors were opened and water handed out to passengers, a Eurostar spokesman confirmed, but four hours into the wait, passengers left the train. Eurostar said a replacement had been sent from London which was scheduled to arrive at 1.30pm, but was delayed. It was thought to have arrived by 4.45pm, according to the BBC. The company confirmed it would be refunding passengers and has offered them a full cash refund or a 300 per cent return of the ticket value in an e-voucher. Passengers had left Brussels at 8.52am local time and were due to arrive in London at 9.57am. The frustrated travellers have taken to social media to vent their frustration. Michael Andrews wrote on X: 'Stuck on the @Eurostar for 4.5 hours, stationary, toilets full, electricity off & absolutely boiling alive... They tweeted there would be a replacement train at 1.30, no sign.' Approaching seven hours, we start walking to then be told there is STILL no sign of a replacement train? — Alana (@alanaroberts13) July 6, 2025 Alana Roberts wrote: 'You waited over two and a half hours before even communicating this, now looking at four hours stuck on this train and still no replacement! There is no air, not even some water offered, staff should be coming carriage to carriage to give us verbal updates at the minimum.' Ms Roberts tweeted again, this time a video of people walking along the tracks with their bags: 'Approaching seven hours, we start walking to then be told there is STILL no sign of a replacement train.' A fellow passenger who only gave her names as Valentina wrote to Eurostar, as she complained about the heat and 'inhumane conditions'. She said: 'I am on this train with two small children who are overheating! There are no toilets, there is no air, these are inhumane conditions. There is still no replacement.' Ms Roberts went on to say: 'Now almost 15:00 and still nothing from you, people are feeling serious unwell at this point.' After 6h on a broken-down Eurostar we cracked out the guitars to remind everybody #theOnlyWayIsUp — Stornoway (@StornowayBand) July 6, 2025 Passenger Edward Hardy, who hosts The Hardy Report political news podcast, posted a video showing Oxford band Stornoway provided some relief to travellers by playing music along the tracks. Mr Hardy wrote: 'A band has started serenading stranded Eurostar passengers with a song titled Home.' The indie folk band wrote on X: 'We cracked out the guitars to remind everybody #theOnlyWayIsUp.' They named themselves after the Scottish town on the Hebridean Isle of Lewis, despite never having been there. They have since visited multiple times since 2010. A Eurostar spokesman said: 'Earlier today, Eurostar train 9117, travelling from Brussels to London, came to a standstill between Lille and Calais due to a power failure, leaving the train without onboard electricity. 'To provide passengers with some comfort during the delay, train doors were opened to allow fresh air to circulate, and water was distributed. 'A rescue train was promptly dispatched from Brussels to carry out a complex transfer operation. This process, supported by local authorities and SNCF Réseau personnel on site, is taking longer than anticipated and is still ongoing. 'Eurostar teams are doing everything possible to ensure all affected passengers reach their final destination, London St Pancras, as soon as possible. 'We understand how difficult this experience has been and sincerely apologise for the disruption and discomfort caused. We are also extremely grateful for our passengers' patience and cooperation throughout.'
The Independent
06-07-2025
- The Independent
Passenger fury over being stuck on ‘boiling' train for five hours
Eurostar passengers travelling from Brussels to London were stranded for over five hours on Sunday after their train broke down in France. The train suffered a power failure between Lille and Calais, leaving passengers without working toilets or air conditioning. Customers described chaotic conditions and poor communication, with some leaning out of doors for fresh air before being evacuated onto the tracks. A replacement train was dispatched, arriving around 3 pm UK time, significantly later than the scheduled 9:57 am arrival.
