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| Eurostar breakdown sparks rescue | Eurostar breakdown sparks rescue |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| More than 700 passengers have had to be rescued from a Eurostar train in Kent after it experienced what the company said was a "major technical problem". | More than 700 passengers have had to be rescued from a Eurostar train in Kent after it experienced what the company said was a "major technical problem". |
| Eurostar said the Paris to London train was stuck south of Ashford but a rescue train would take passengers to London. | Eurostar said the Paris to London train was stuck south of Ashford but a rescue train would take passengers to London. |
| The train was due to leave Gare du Nord at 2043 GMT and arrive in St Pancras at 2159 GMT but was delayed after an unattended bag caused a security alert. | The train was due to leave Gare du Nord at 2043 GMT and arrive in St Pancras at 2159 GMT but was delayed after an unattended bag caused a security alert. |
| The rescue train arrived at London's St Pancras station at 0235 GMT on Monday. | |
| Passengers were given food and drink in the capital. Around 100 people had left the train at Ashford. | |
| Eurostar would not confirm passengers' claim that lights in the carriages had failed or reports that the power car had become detached from the rest of the train. | Eurostar would not confirm passengers' claim that lights in the carriages had failed or reports that the power car had become detached from the rest of the train. |
| 'Lost all power' | 'Lost all power' |
| A spokeswoman said it did not know what had caused the electrically powered train to stop at about 2245 GMT. | A spokeswoman said it did not know what had caused the electrically powered train to stop at about 2245 GMT. |
| She said: "We are investigating what happened fully. We ensured a rescue train was there incredibly quickly. | She said: "We are investigating what happened fully. We ensured a rescue train was there incredibly quickly. |
| "We have put everything in position so that people who need to get taxis or people who need hotels are taken care of. | "We have put everything in position so that people who need to get taxis or people who need hotels are taken care of. |
| "Our priority is to make sure our passengers are looked after." | "Our priority is to make sure our passengers are looked after." |
| Eurostar is understaffed, under resourced and unprepared to handle such incidents Andres Falconer, passenger | Eurostar is understaffed, under resourced and unprepared to handle such incidents Andres Falconer, passenger |
| People on board the broken-down train are being offered a cash refund as well as a free return ticket in compensation. | |
| Eurostar said there was not expected to be any disruption to services later and passengers should check in as normal. | Eurostar said there was not expected to be any disruption to services later and passengers should check in as normal. |
| A later Paris-to-London service successfully bypassed the stranded train, the spokeswoman said. | A later Paris-to-London service successfully bypassed the stranded train, the spokeswoman said. |
| 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." |
| He said staff had provided water but did not appear to have torches. | He said staff had provided water but did not appear to have torches. |
| Compensation announcement | Compensation announcement |
| Passenger Richard Kenny said passengers were sat in the dark for about two hours. | Passenger Richard Kenny said passengers were sat in the dark for about two hours. |
| He said staff had kept passengers informed and the rescue operation appeared to be "well organised". | He said staff had kept passengers informed and the rescue operation appeared to be "well organised". |
| But Andres Falconer, who has been transferred to the rescue train, said the evacuation operation was "painfully slow". | But Andres Falconer, who has been transferred to the rescue train, said the evacuation operation was "painfully slow". |
| He added: "Eurostar is understaffed, under resourced and unprepared to handle such incidents." | He added: "Eurostar is understaffed, under resourced and unprepared to handle such incidents." |
| 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. | 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 Eurostar train? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | Are you on the Eurostar train? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |
| You can also send us your pictures or videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload it here. | You can also send us your pictures or videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload it here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| 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 |