Thousands of Eurostar passengers faced severe disruptions on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, as the high-speed rail operator grappled with the aftermath of two tragic fatalities on the tracks near Lille, France, compounded by a massive cable theft that further crippled services.
On Tuesday, June 24, two separate fatalities occurred on the LGV Nord high-speed line between Lille and Paris, leading to the closure of the line for much of the afternoon and evening. Eurostar confirmed the incidents, expressing condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives. The tragedies not only caused immediate disruption but also left many trains and crew members out of position, creating a ripple effect that extended into the following day.
As if the situation was not challenging enough, French media reported that overnight between June 24 and June 25, more than 600 metres of copper cables were stolen from the same rail line near Lille. This theft involved the severing of nine cables over a 70-metre stretch, a sabotage that engineers described as severe and complex to repair. The magnitude of the cable loss forced Eurostar to run services on alternative, conventional routes, which are less capable of handling the high-speed traffic, leading to congestion and further delays.
According to SNCF Hauts-de-France, while it is possible to operate trains on conventional lines, their capacity is limited, and diverting high-speed services through these routes inevitably causes bottlenecks. Trains were rerouted via Douai and Arras to reconnect with the high-speed line, but this detour was far from seamless. The combined impact of the fatalities and the cable theft resulted in at least five Eurostar services on the London-Paris route being cancelled and seven others delayed by approximately an hour on Wednesday.
Specific cancellations included the 8:01 AM, 10:31 AM, and 4:01 PM departures from London’s St Pancras International to Paris, as well as the 7:12 AM, 8:42 AM, and 11:12 AM services from Paris to London. These cancellations left many passengers stranded or forced to make alternative arrangements at short notice.
Eurostar’s spokesperson acknowledged the chaos, stating, “We are deeply sorry to confirm that there were two separate fatalities on the LGV Nord high-speed line between Lille and Paris yesterday. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives.” The company also highlighted the additional disruption caused by the cable theft, noting that the line closure and subsequent rerouting had a significant knock-on effect on service reliability.
Passengers affected by the delays and cancellations were offered assistance onboard and at stations. Eurostar teams distributed water to those on delayed trains and provided support to travelers navigating the disrupted schedules. Moreover, the operator allowed customers to change their travel plans free of charge or request full refunds, acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the unprecedented combination of events.
One passenger shared the frustration felt by many, recounting how a Eurostar representative apologetically explained the situation: “Apologies but it's total chaos due to 2 accidents involving people and a cable theft.” This candid admission underscored the extraordinary difficulties faced by the rail network on that day.
The theft of such a substantial length of copper cable is not only a costly setback but also a criminal act that jeopardizes public safety and disrupts essential transport links. Repairing the damage required specialized engineering teams to work on-site, but the extent of the sabotage meant that normal service levels could not be restored quickly.
Eurostar advised travelers planning to journey between London and Paris to postpone their trips if possible, reflecting the ongoing uncertainty and operational challenges. Meanwhile, services on other routes, such as London to Brussels and Amsterdam, continued to operate but with delays, as the disruption on the northern French lines had a cascading impact across the broader network.
This incident comes at a time when rail travel is crucial for connecting major European cities efficiently and sustainably. The combination of tragic fatalities and deliberate sabotage highlights vulnerabilities in infrastructure security and the profound effects such events can have on thousands of passengers relying on these services daily.
As investigations into the cable theft continue, authorities are likely to review security measures along critical rail corridors to prevent similar incidents in the future. Meanwhile, Eurostar and French railway operators face the immediate task of managing the operational fallout and restoring reliable service as swiftly as possible.
For many passengers, the events of June 24 and 25, 2025, will be remembered as a day of unexpected travel chaos and profound sadness. Yet, the response from Eurostar, including customer support and flexible travel options, aimed to mitigate the impact and reassure travelers during a difficult period.
As rail networks work to bounce back, these incidents serve as a stark reminder of the complex challenges involved in maintaining high-speed rail services across international borders, where safety, security, and infrastructure integrity are paramount.
