Eurostar services have been thrown into chaos for a second consecutive day as thousands of passengers face severe delays and cancellations following two tragic incidents and a major cable theft near Lille, France. The disruption, unfolding since the evening of June 23, 2025, has left travelers stranded at London’s St Pancras International and across the continent, as rail operators and authorities scramble to restore normalcy.
The turmoil began on June 23 when two individuals were fatally struck by trains on the LGV Nord high-speed line between Lille and Paris. This tragic event forced the suspension of services between London St Pancras and Paris Gare du Nord, sparking significant disruption. Eurostar confirmed the fatalities in a statement, expressing condolences to the victims' families and friends, and acknowledging the resulting cancellations and delays. “We are deeply sorry to confirm that there were two separate fatalities on the LGV Nord high-speed line between Lille and Paris yesterday,” the company said. “The line was closed for much of the afternoon and evening, resulting in significant disruption to Eurostar services, including cancellations on routes to and from Paris.”
While services on the London–Brussels–Amsterdam route continued to operate, albeit with delays, the knock-on effects of the incidents persisted into June 25, with displaced trains and crews compounding the challenges. Eurostar warned that trains would be crowded with passengers from cancelled services, urging travelers to expect delays and cancellations.
As if the tragedy was not enough, the situation worsened overnight when thieves reportedly stole approximately 600 meters (around 2,000 feet) of vital copper cabling from the LGV Nord line near Lille. This theft further crippled the network, triggering fresh chaos and forcing the cancellation of multiple Eurostar services between London and Brussels/Paris on June 25. French railway operator SNCF dispatched around 15 workers, including cable layers, to repair the damage, with full restoration initially expected by mid-afternoon (3pm to 4pm CET).
Eurostar advised passengers due to travel on June 25 to postpone their journeys, offering free exchanges and full refunds. A spokesperson said, “Customers have been contacted directly with updates and available options, and Eurostar is advising those due to travel today to postpone their journey with free exchanges and refunds available. We’re very sorry for the continued disruption and the impact this is having on our customers. Our teams are working hard to support customers in the stations.”
The disruption has been particularly severe for travelers at London St Pancras and Paris Gare du Nord. Numerous trains were cancelled or delayed, with the Eurostar website showing six trips between London and Paris cancelled on June 25 alone, including morning and afternoon services. Passengers faced waits of over seven hours in some cases, with many stranded overnight. Complaints surfaced of “horrific” customer service, with some travelers forced to sleep in stations or on empty trains as hotels filled up or became prohibitively expensive.
One passenger, Dominic Read, reported a seven-hour delay compounded by the cancellation of his rebooked morning train on June 25. Another, Joe Mac, highlighted the exorbitant hotel prices in Paris following the cancellations, noting, “If you were quick they started at €800 and very quickly went well over €1,000 once all the trains were cancelled.” Lana Zovko was told she could sleep in an “empty train because the train station is closing,” while Tonia Kats described purchasing three £375 tickets in a desperate bid to reach Paris, only to have two of her trains cancelled. She lamented, “The customer service and care is horrific! I am expecting refund and compensation plus my lost accommodation in Paris last night.”
Despite these hardships, Eurostar confirmed that all customers affected by cancellations are entitled to full refunds or free rebooking. However, some passengers expressed frustration over inconsistent communication and poor handling of the crisis. One disgruntled traveler on social media described the experience as “handled poorly, little communication, bad announcements for those of us stuck on trains with no food as sold out, no running water and a bad website to file a claim,” vowing never to use the service again.
At Gare du Nord, delays continued with trains reportedly leaving with 30-minute lags, and chaotic scenes persisted with long queues and malfunctioning escalators compounding the stress. Elizabeth Romijn, a 75-year-old Dutch passenger, described the situation as “very chaotic” and criticized the station’s conditions, saying, “It’s a bit of a horrible place to wait here, I wish it was a nicer place, but it’s dirty, there’s not enough seats so people sit on the ground.”
The UK Foreign Office updated its travel advice for British citizens, warning of “severe disruption” on Eurostar services to and from France and urging travelers to check operator guidance before setting off, especially for connecting trains.
Among those affected was Belgian holidaymaker Marie-Line Ponville, who, along with her daughter, faced the prospect of missing a week-long Mediterranean cruise departing from Marseille. “We can’t even stay here as we packed our bags for somewhere sunny. I think we will just cancel and go home,” she said.
Eurostar and SNCF engineers have been working diligently to repair the damaged infrastructure. Photos from Lille show technicians reconnecting the stolen cables and restoring the line. SNCF confirmed that one track had reopened, allowing trains to run in both directions until full repairs are completed, easing some pressure on the system.
Water distribution onboard delayed trains and assistance from station teams have been ongoing to support stranded passengers. Eurostar reiterated its commitment to managing the situation safely and restoring services as quickly as possible, stating, “Our teams are working closely with the French authorities and infrastructure teams to manage the situation and restore services safely.”
As of early afternoon on June 25, Eurostar announced that full repairs were complete and trains had resumed normal operations, though some delays were expected to persist throughout the day. The company continued to advise travelers to postpone trips where possible and assured them of their rights to refunds or rebooking options.
The twin tragedies and subsequent cable theft have exposed vulnerabilities in the high-speed rail network connecting the UK and mainland Europe, underscoring the challenges of maintaining seamless international travel amid unforeseen incidents. For now, passengers are left navigating the fallout, hoping for a swift return to reliable service.
