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Christmas Ruined By Eurostar

Extreme weather conditions have caused numerous Eurostar train break downs over the weekend, leaving many travellers stranded. Six train break downs have resulted in 55,000 travellers having their journeys disrupted.

It has been reported that although the snow shields used to protect train electrics for 15 years had been effective in the past, the unusually acute weather conditions in Northern France had caused severe problems. Eurostar have identified the flaw that has caused their trains to fail and they are taking steps to fix the issue.

As many as 2000 passengers found themselves trapped in the Channel Tunnel on broken down trains. Some spent up to 16 hours incarcerated in their train beneath the English Channel. Many have reported a lack of information and no food and no water on the stranded trains. Some travellers abandoned their stranded trains and attempted to walk through the cold, dark tunnel which extends for 24 miles beneath the channel.

Many passengers have expressed dismay at the way in which Eurostar have managed the issues and failed to communicate with travellers. Some passengers are reported to have suffered from panic attacks and others have experienced the effects of claustrophobia. Many have complained about the lack of information, food, water and support.

Many people, 31,000 on Saturday and a further 27,000 on Sunday, were stranded due to train cancellations.

Freezing weather conditions have continued to disrupt travel in all parts of the British Isles with flight cancellations from many airports. As weather forecasters warn of further heavy snow in many parts of the UK further travel disruption is expected as Christmas approaches. Police authorities in Scotland have advised people to stay at home unless their journeys are absolutely essential.

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Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009, by freetraffic and is filed under "Travel Stories, channel tunnel, chaos, disruption, eurostar, Travel ". Both comments and pings are currently closed.