News - Eurostar Chaos: Unexpected Delays Leave Hundreds Stranded

In a dramatic twist to holiday travel plans, Eurostar passengers were left stranded after a major power failure caused significant delays. Stephanie Letessier, aiming for a peaceful New Year's in Paris, was forced to find temporary refuge with friends in London. Her situation epitomizes the disruption faced by many: 'I was just supposed to go back to have a quiet New Year’s Eve in France,' lamented Letessier, an A.I. start-up professional. Equally impacted were Laurence Duhamel and her mother, Roseline Edouard, whose dream trip to London was soured as they scrambled to return to Paris promptly. Discovering the snafu only at the station, they resorted to a convoluted journey involving flights to Geneva and onward to Paris by train, a detour costing them an unexpected 800 euros. 'We have that money,' Duhamel admitted with resignation, 'But we just didn’t want to spend it like this.' In response to the fiasco, Eurostar committed to alleviating the financial burden on its patrons by offering reimbursement for hotel stays capped at 150 British pounds or €170 per night. Additionally, they pledged to cover taxi fares up to £50 or €60 and daily allowances for meals amounting to £35 or €40 per person. As the company attempts to address the fallout from the power failure, affected passengers are finding solace in these compensations, even as they contend with the broader impacts of the delays on their plans.