Hundreds of Eurostar passengers including children are left without ‘food, water and loo roll’ for ‘up to five hours’ after train was stranded on tracks when cable snapped and fell onto it – sparking mass cancellations
- Train from London St Pancras to Amsterdam stuck for up to eight hours today
- Toilets overflowed, people start smoking and are forced to urinate into cups
- Were you affected? Email [email protected]
Passengers stuck on a Eurostar train for up to eight hours complained of ‘inhumane’ conditions today as toilets overflowed and people were forced to urinate into cups.
Families heading from London St Pancras to Amsterdam via Brussels on the 8.16am train were stranded in Kent when an electrical cable snapped and fell onto it.
Those travelling on service 9114 said they were about to enter the Channel Tunnel before the train stopped when it was hit by the cable amid sparks and loud bangs.
Disgusting conditions were reported as the lavatories overflowed with urine, faeces and paper – with people left ‘urinating into cups’ and ‘c***ping on the toilet floors’.
Others urged staff to open the doors because the air conditioning had to be turned off, while babies were crying loudly and people even started smoking on board.
The incident caused major knock-on cancellations and delays to other Eurostar services as trains attempted to overtake the stationary service on other tracks.
Eurostar major huge criticism and has admitted it was a ‘very challenging situation’ on board the train’, adding that it was ‘extremely sorry for the experience’. It also said that the ‘position of the train and the track infrastructure’ complicated the situation.
Workers pictured outside the Eurostar train from London which was stranded for hours in Kent
Eurostar passenger Surash Patel tweeted this picture of his view as he waited for updates
Politico reporter Ashleigh Furlong was among those stuck on the train and saw the black cable hanging down the side of the carriage as staff investigated the issue.
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The train manager is said to have told passengers that ‘the news is not good’ and they would be stuck for a long period while a rescue train came from London.
Passenger Evan James tweeted Kent Police to say: ‘Hi there, we are being held on a Eurostar train for over eight hours now, no access to food, water or the toilet. There is no fresh air in the cabin and there are many children here. Getting extremely dangerous.’
Russell Caten said: ‘Toilets are now full to the brim with human faeces, and overflowing, it’s dark, we can’t go to the toilet, and now food and drinks have ran out. Stuck for seven hours. What a great way to travel!’
Earlier, he said: ‘People are now smoking on the train and c***ping on the toilet floors. We feel trapped! It’s been over five hours now, people are losing it! Get us off this train!’
Fellow traveller Barbara said: ‘It’s been seven hours. Please open the doors so people can breathe. There are elderly and small children in the train, no water, no food or toilets. We should’ve been supported or evacuated by now. It is time for decisive action.’
Another user called @ccaared tweeted a disgusting video of an overflowing toilet, and said: ‘Sorry but this is actually inhumane, Eurostar. The toilets have been out of order for almost over five hours and we’re still being told to use them by staff when they look like this? An actual nightmare – never again, Eurostar.’
And X user @BrownELJ said: ‘People on the train are urinating into cups. Meanwhile Eurostar provides no useful info, food or drink. Train Manager just says five minutes every ten minutes. Absolute mess.’
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Surash Patel added: ‘Six hours, around 900 people including young families… please give us some positive news.’
And Doug Wood said: ‘Nearly six hours, it’ll be getting dark soon, no update from what was last posted an hour ago, babies are screaming, terrible smell coming from toilets… You need to communicate more and get more help on the scene.’
Maia Brons tweeted: ‘We need urgent attention now. Open the doors, get a replacement train, give us some clarity, anything! This might soon turn into a serious health risk for dozens of people.’
And X user @RL_E52 said: ‘Passengers are stuck on a train with no air on, broken toilets, minimal updates from Eurostar, children are sleeping on the floor, fractal matter and urine overflowing in the toilet. I’ve been stuck in my carriage for over 3.5 hours.’
MailOnline has contacted Eurostar for comment.
The operator told one passenger on X: ‘We’re sorry for the disruption today. The train is being detached from the overhead power lines but this is taking longer than expected and we are awaiting authorisation from the infrastructure managers to proceed further.’
It told a second passenger: ‘We sincerely regret these travel conditions. Our teams are doing their utmost to restore the situation as quickly as possible, you are going to be informed on board.’
And it informed a third: ‘Hello, we are aware of the very challenging situation on board 9114, and are extremely sorry for the experience. The train has now begun its way back to London. The situation was complicated due to the position of the train and the track infrastructure.’
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