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Eurostar passengers left stranded | Eurostar passengers left stranded |
(10 minutes later) | |
Some 740 passengers are stuck on a Eurostar train in Kent after it experienced "technical problems". | Some 740 passengers are stuck on a Eurostar train in Kent after it experienced "technical problems". |
Eurostar said the Paris to London train was stuck near Ashford but a rescue train would take passengers to London. | Eurostar said the Paris to London train was stuck near Ashford but a rescue train would take passengers to London. |
The train was due to leave Gare du Nord at 2113 GMT and arrive in St Pancras at 2229 GMT but was delayed after an unattended bag caused a security alert. | The train was due to leave Gare du Nord at 2113 GMT and arrive in St Pancras at 2229 GMT but was delayed after an unattended bag caused a security alert. |
Passenger Alistair Neale said lights in the carriages had failed but the rescue train had arrived at the scene. | Passenger Alistair Neale said lights in the carriages had failed but the rescue train had arrived at the scene. |
Eurostar would not confirm whether the lights had failed or reports that the cab had become detached from the train. | Eurostar would not confirm whether the lights had failed or reports that the cab had become detached from the train. |
Strong criticism | Strong criticism |
Richard Startari, who was on the train, said: "Just 10 minutes from Ashford, the Eurostar kind of stopped, at which point we then lost all power. | Richard Startari, who was on the train, said: "Just 10 minutes from Ashford, the Eurostar kind of stopped, at which point we then lost all power. |
"A lot of the Eurostar staff are going up and down with water, but they don't seem to have torches, which is a bit concerning. They're using their iPhones." | "A lot of the Eurostar staff are going up and down with water, but they don't seem to have torches, which is a bit concerning. They're using their iPhones." |
Christopher Alonge said the train stopped at about 2245 GMT. He said passengers had been told they would have to board the rescue train coach by coach. | Christopher Alonge said the train stopped at about 2245 GMT. He said passengers had been told they would have to board the rescue train coach by coach. |
The incident is the latest problem to hit Eurostar in recent months. | The incident is the latest problem to hit Eurostar in recent months. |
Several trains broke down in December when heavy snowfall caused the trains to lose power, leaving the service crippled for three days. | Several trains broke down in December when heavy snowfall caused the trains to lose power, leaving the service crippled for three days. |
A total of 2,500 passengers were stuck in the tunnel for up to five-and-a-half hours while a further 100,000 were stranded because of the delays. | A total of 2,500 passengers were stuck in the tunnel for up to five-and-a-half hours while a further 100,000 were stranded because of the delays. |
The firm was subsequently strongly criticised by an independent review which said its contingency plans for helping stranded passengers were "insufficient". | The firm was subsequently strongly criticised by an independent review which said its contingency plans for helping stranded passengers were "insufficient". |
It also raised concerns over the poor conditions for passengers stuck on the trains in the Channel Tunnel. | It also raised concerns over the poor conditions for passengers stuck on the trains in the Channel Tunnel. |
Carriages lost air conditioning and lighting as a result of the power failure, while sanitary conditions quickly became poor. | |
Services between the UK and Brussels have also been delayed in the past week following a collision between two Belgian passenger trains on 15 February. | Services between the UK and Brussels have also been delayed in the past week following a collision between two Belgian passenger trains on 15 February. |
Are you on the stuck Eurostar train? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | Are you on the stuck Eurostar train? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |