Travel disruptions between the UK and France are creating significant challenges for passengers, stemming from two primary operational changes affecting both rail and ferry services.
First, Eurostar has announced it will not operate its summer service connecting the Netherlands and Belgium with the south of France for 2025. Previously known as the ‘Eurostar Sun’, this service allowed travelers to easily reach picturesque destinations such as Valence, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, and Marseille with direct trains from cities like Amsterdam and Brussels. It ran each Saturday across seven weeks during the summer months, achieving more than 90% ticket sales pre-pandemic, as noted by various news sources.
"Eurostar will not run its summer service between the Netherlands and Belgium to the south of France this year," reported The Brussels Times. This operative shift marks Eurostar's strategic focus on core routes between major cities including London, Paris, Lille, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Cologne, reflecting alterations within their operational strategy post-COVID.
While the ‘Eurostar Sun’ service is scrapped, the 'Eurostar Snow’ service, facilitating winter ski trips from Paris to Alpine destinations, remains unaffected. This indicates Eurostar's intention to maintain focus on high-demand routes and popular seasonal travel experiences.
Zoe Jones, spokesperson for Eurostar, emphasized, "The decision was taken to streamline services and concentrate our efforts where demand is strongest, particularly now as travel patterns continue to evolve. We regret the inconvenience caused to our summer travelers but hope to offer them alternative options through connecting services."
For individuals still wishing to travel to southern France from the Netherlands, options remain available. Passengers from Brussels can take the high-speed TGV ‘inOui’ trains operated by the French rail company SNCF. Travelers from the Netherlands can also opt to travel through Brussels or Paris before catching onward services to their desired destinations.
On another front, disruptions are being reported for ferry services linking the UK with France due to strike actions by French port workers. On February 27, workers at the French port declared a ‘port mort’ operation, leading to significant delays and cancellations, particularly on the Dover-Calais route, which is highly trafficked. Ferry companies such as DFDS and P&O have urged travelers to check updates and verify booking details before proceeding.
"Passengers set to travel today are being warned to check for updates with their operator and verify booking details," reported P&O, stressing the importance of staying informed amid these rapid changes.
The consequences of the strike extend beyond just ferry operators; freight ships are also impacted, causing congestion on major routes including the A16 around Calais as heavy traffic builds up. Although Brittany Ferries canceled certain services to Le Havre and Caen, it remains uncertain whether this is directly linked to the strike actions.
French port workers are on strike over demands for improved working conditions, including extra paid leave, and against recently instituted pension reforms. The unrest follows several full and partial strike actions taken since the beginning of 2025, highlighting longstanding grievances settled between unions and the government.
Industry experts suggest the situation could escalate as unions warn of the possibility of more strikes occurring throughout March if their demands are not addressed. This situation poses continuous uncertainty for travelers planning their journeys across the English Channel.
Both Eurostar's decision to cancel its summer rail service and the ferry disruptions due to labor strikes reflect the broader challenges faced by the travel industry post-pandemic. Travelers are advised to remain vigilant, keep updated on service status, and explore alternate travel options to navigate through these disruptions smoothly.
It remains to be seen how these developments will affect travel patterns and industry dynamics in the months to come. Travelers planning to cross between the UK and France should be prepared for potential changes and disruptions as operators respond to the current operational and economic environments.
With summer plans visibly altered for rail tourists and ferry passengers grappling with strike-related challenges, the interconnectivity of UK-France travel is currently under strain.