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Passengers on board a London-bound Eurostar train were stranded for over five hours in scorching conditions after a power failure brought the train to a standstill between Lille and Calais.
Travellers on train 9117, which departed from Brussels and was bound for London St Pancras, were left without air conditioning, functioning toilets, or communication for hours, with several requiring medical attention as conditions worsened.
Emergency Response and Rescue Train Delays
According to Eurostar, the breakdown was caused by an onboard power failure, leaving the train without electricity or ventilation. A rescue train was dispatched from Brussels, but transferring passengers proved more complex than anticipated.
In a statement, Eurostar said:
“Train 9117 came to a standstill between Lille and Calais due to a power failure.
Doors were opened to allow airflow, and water was distributed. A rescue train is conducting a transfer operation supported by SNCF Réseau. We apologise for the disruption and discomfort caused.”
Musicians Step In to Lift Spirits
Amid the growing frustration, a British folk band named Stornoway helped lift spirits by performing an impromptu acoustic set for fellow passengers. Videos shared on X (formerly Twitter) showed passengers sitting beside the train on gravel, listening to the band’s song “Home.”
Their performance provided a rare moment of calm during an otherwise tense and sweltering ordeal.
Growing Passenger Outrage
Despite Eurostar’s statement, many passengers took to social media to express fury over the lack of communication.
“There is no air-conditioning, the toilets are overflowing, and we have not had a single update in over two hours,” one user wrote.
Another added: “There are asthma patients and infants on board. People are overheating and anxious. This is not just an incident — there is no plan.”
Others said paramedics had boarded the train to assist several unwell individuals, and the doors were only partially opened, creating dangerous conditions inside the carriages.
Compensation Package Offered
Eurostar has confirmed that all affected passengers will be offered compensation. Customers may choose between a 100% cash refund or 300% of their ticket value in an e-voucher.
Previous Eurostar Disruptions
This latest chaos comes just weeks after major disruptions caused by stolen copper cabling and fatal track incidents across the high-speed network in northern France.
