Eurostar ‘hell’ as technical downside leaves passengers stranded for 8 hours in heatwave
A Eurostar train from Paris to Amsterdam was forced to stop due to a ‘technical problem’ leaving passengers stranded for hours in blistering heat waiting for a rail replacement
Eurostar passengers were left stranded(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Eurostar passengers have spoken of their hell after being left stranded for eight hours in a blistering heatwave. The train which had left Gare du Nord in Paris was bound for Amsterdam.
But a technical problem forced the driver to stop the train near Fresnoy-le-Luat (Oise) just after 7.30pm on Wednesday (June 24), Le Parisien reports. Passengers were left without electricity and air conditioning and had to wait either on the train or on the side of the tracks.
It ended up being delayed by more than eight hours as people on board took to social media to share their ordeal. One wrote on X: “Eurostar, our train from Paris to Brussels is stopped on the tracks, what the hell is going on?”
The company replied to say: “A technical incident caused by exceptional heatwave conditions has occurred on board the train.”
One passenger described the situation as “hell” and said police, firefighters and civil protection crews arrived and assisted the elderly as well as handing out water.
A rail replacement finally arrived at 12.30am the following day allowing passengers to continue their journey to Brussels.
The original arrival in the Belgian capital was scheduled for 7.47pm on Wednesday. The other passengers continued their journey to Amsterdam by bus or taxi.
Amar Chaabi, Eurostar’s Chief Operating Officer said: ““We fully understand what our passengers experienced last night and offer them our sincerest apologies.
“The safety of our customers guided every decision taken throughout this incident. I would like to commend the exemplary efforts of our teams, SNCF Réseau, Infrabel, and the emergency services in assisting passengers to their destinations.
“We will analyze this incident in detail to learn all the lessons and continue to improve our customer service.”
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