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[bigrossco]

Here is the latest update from Eurostar but it sadly is bad news for tomorrow:


EUROSTAR WILL NOT BE OPERATING SERVICES ON MONDAY 21 DECEMBER 2009

Eurostar, at 20:00 (GMT) announced that it will not be operating services on Monday 21 December in light of forecasts of further snowfall in northern France.

As a result of the test runs that were conducted today we now understand the cause of the disruption over the weekend and have identified the modifications that are required.  

As we suspected, the acute weather conditions in northern France have caused the disruption.  Every year we carry out a 'winterisation' programme of the entire fleet which to date has successfully protected our trains.  We now know, however, that we need to further enhance the snow screens and snow shields in the power cars of the trains.  

We have already started making the modifications and to ensure that these new protection measures work effectively we are conducting a further series of test runs tomorrow.  Our priority is ensuring that when we resume services we provide our customers with a robust and reliable operation.

We sincerely regret having to take this decision and we understand how frustrated and disappointed travellers will be, particularly those who have been waiting to travel for the last two days.  

We strongly advise passengers whose travel is non-essential to change their booking to a later date or claim a refund on their tickets. This can be done free of charge through your original point of sale up to two months after the original date of travel.

For customers who have been unable to travel over the last few days, Eurostar will cover the cost of out-of pocket expenses, for example, hotels and taxis. Full details of our compensation policy are in the relevant FAQ.  

We will provide a further update on our services by 18.00 on Monday evening

[Anthony]

Winterisation!

That's my new favourite word. :lol:

[Anthony]

Limited service from tomorrow: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/euros ... tdown.html

[davewasbaloo]

Sadly, this is why we rarely plan travel during the winter.

[Adam]

Hopefully, once this is all resolved and the schedule is back to normal, they can get to the bottom of the fault with the trains - you would have thought they would have accounted for UK weather when they designed the trains!

Bring back steam trains!

[kurgly_bird]

Disney have rescheduled our trip to April, the agent on the phone told us that eurostar have pretty much begged Disney to do this for everyone as they had so many people claiming for refunds on missed Disney trips. It's just been such a mess, but it looks like they've solved the problem at last.

[The Butlin Boy]

Disney have rescheduled our trip to April, the agent on the phone told us that eurostar have pretty much begged Disney to do this for everyone as they had so many people claiming for refunds on missed Disney trips. It's just been such a mess, but it looks like they've solved the problem at last.

I'm glad to hear that you'll at least get there in the end

[Anthony]

There are also strikes on RER A line trains, although reading their site it seems 3 out of 4 trains are due to run during daytime tomorrow and 1 out of 4 at other times: http://www.ratp.com

[bigrossco]

and then with all this snow as well causing disruptions to flights as well !

You think we would learn lesssons after so many years and they would be much better prepaired

[bigrossco]

Latest update from eurostar:

The procedures that were put in place to prioritise passengers have worked well and in the course of today the backlog of passengers from the weekend has been cleared.

Eurostar will continue to operate a restricted service on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 December. Trains will be running throughout the day. An indicative timetable can be accessed through the link below.

Customers with tickets for travel between Saturday 19 and Thursday 24 December can come to the terminal on either Wednesday or Thursday and we will do our best to allocate a seat on the next available train.

Below link will take you to the timetable for the 23rd (have shortned this as was long!)

//http://bit.ly/8kXD2O

[bigrossco]

EUROSTAR RUNNING NORMAL SERVICE

We are now running a normal service and we recommend that you check-in at least 30 minutes before the departure time shown on your ticket. We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused to passengers caught up in the disruptions before Christmas. We really appreciate your patience and understanding during this difficult period.

A letter has also been posted by the CEO of the eurostar regarding the events of what happend:

//http://www.eurostar.com/UK/be/leisure/travel_information/before_you_go/ceo_statement.jsp

[paul]

Eurostar have now also refunded automatically any internet-booked tickets for cancelled trains, where people did not use the tickets on a later date. Still got to wait upto 4 weeks for out-of-pocket expenses to (potentially) be refunded though.

[Anthony]

Another train stuck in the tunnel - now towed out but more disruption:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/8445531.stm

[davewasbaloo]

Hi folks,

It has been a fun day. After leaving my home at 6:30 this morning, I finally got to St Pancras at 10:18 (bear in mind this is usually a 60 - 75 minute journey for me). There were delays. I was advised by staff to go back home once I got off the train.

Sadly, as I passed all the Eurostar boards, the signs cam up delayed. Then the announcements starter. All Eurostar trains are delayed or cancelled and they are offering money back/ change bookings now.

If anyone is going, please check before you travel. It was like a refugee camp, and the amount of tears by the DLP families. Fun stuff. Not.

I finally got home and am starting to work 8 hours after leaving for work.  

[bigrossco]

this is putting the eurostar service to a great shame, and this is made worse with weather condition's in parts of the UK also delaying or cancelling flights

You would think we would all be able to better perpair for this weather but nooo

BBC has reported this is due to ANOTHER broken down train

 Eurostar train broke down inside the Channel Tunnel for two hours after suffering traction problems.

The service, which had been due to arrive at London St Pancras from Brussels at 0856 GMT, arrived in Ashford at about noon.

Eurotunnel said a rescue engine towed the train out and the 234 passengers had heat and light at all times.

Eurostar said all of the passengers arrived at London St Pancras at about 1220 GMT.

The breakdown has caused freight delays through the tunnel, according to Eurotunnel.

It said passenger services had not been badly hit as not as many people travel at this time of year.

A spokeswoman for Eurostar said it did not know what caused the fault and could not rule out snow being a factor.

Until the problem is identified Eurotunnel is only allowing Eurostar to send one train at a time through the tunnel.

In December more than 2,000 people were trapped inside the Channel Tunnel for hours after five trains suffered electrical failure due to freezing conditions.


Latest from EUROSTAR

Because of the current bad weather conditions across northern Europe Eurostar will be running a restricted service over the next few days.

In particular, the last trains today Thursday will be running earlier than usual. Last departures are: London to Brussels 18:35, London to Paris 19:02, Brussels to London 17:59, Paris to London 19:13.

If you do not need to travel we recommend you cancel or postpone your trip. Your ticket can be exchanged or refunded for free through your original point of purchase at any time in the next two months. If you booked on eurostar.com and have a non-changeable ticket, please contact us on 08432 186 186 (from the UK), 01.70.70.60.88 (from France) or 02 400 67 31 (from Belgium) to make your change anytime within the next two months.

Travellers with tickets on trains that are now cancelled (trains 9044, 9053, 9054, 9059, 9063, 9158 and 9163) will be accepted on all other trains today and should make their way to our stations as soon as is practicable but no later than one hour before the last train shown above. Please note availability on the final trains of the day will be severely limited.

Travellers with tickets on all other trains should check-in 45 minutes before the departure time shown on your ticket.
We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and again would like to stress that our customers' comfort remains our priority in every decision we are making.