700 passengers stuck on Eurostar trains overnight

HUNDREDS of Eurostar passengers were stuck on trains for hours overnight after an overhead cable problem.

The Eurostar trains were affected by an overhead cable problem at Lille. Picture: PA

The problem, at Lille in northern France, affected nearly 700 passengers travelling on yesterday’s 6.01pm London to Paris Eurostar service as well as around 600 who were on the 6.04pm London to Brussels train.

After not moving for many hours, the passengers were only able to complete their journey when diesel trains arrived to tow the stricken trains to their destinations.

A Eurostar spokesman said the Paris train had finally arrived six hours late, while the Brussels train had got in nine hours late.

The spokesman went on: “There was a failure of the overhead power line just outside Lille.

“The passengers on the Brussels train are entitled to twice the amount of a complete refund plus a free return trip, while those on the Paris train can claim an entire refund plus a free return trip.”