The company has been slammed for the conditions onboard (Picture: AFP)
Eurostar passengers allegedly stormed the cafe cart after being forced to wait more than 11 hours to get back to Britain.
Angry passengers took to social media today,claiming they were left without working toilets,on stifling trains with no airflow.
The operator said in a statement to one traveller: ‘We’re sending a replacement train to take you to London,which should arrive shortly. You’ll need to leave the train.
‘For your own safety,please remain seated for now and wait for instructions from our onboard team.’
Earlier,a passenger stuck on the Eurostar tracks near Guines,who did not want to be named,told Metro: ‘We’ve been here for about four hours now. They said both of the engines are out of service and we need a new train to take us.
‘Conditions aren’t great – paramedics are on board and triaging people. There are no toilets. No AC. No water. Zero communication from staff on board. None. The only info we get is from Twitter.’
Medics were seen boarding a train in photos shared with Metro (Picture: Contributed)
But the lack of communication from the company caused serious concern,with passenger Serge de Gheldere writing: ‘Almost 3h. Still no news,no air. This is not just an incident or bad luck.
‘There is no plan. Instead of opening the doors and trusting the people,they only have one or two doors open and let people almost suffocate. There are asthma patients and infants on board.’
Eventually,passengers were told to disembark outside of Calais and wait for a replacement train service. British folk group Stornoway staged an impromptu gig on the train tracks adapting the lyrics to Yazz’s Only Way Is Up to their bizarre situation.
‘Passengers have each been given a KitKat,for which we are of course grateful,but still no info about what’s actually happened or when we’ll be moving,’ they told the BBC.
The group claimed angry passengers had started ‘raiding the café car’ and they saw one person being taken away in a stretcher.
Finally,the replacement train started moving at 6.30pm,passengers said.
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Eurostar claimed the train arrived in St Pancras International 50 minutes later – meaning the usual two-hour journey clocked in at more than 11 hours.
Passengers have taken to social media to complain (Picture: PA)
A spokesperson for Eurostar told Metro: ‘Earlier today,Eurostar train 9117,travelling from Brussels to London,came to a standstill between Lille and Calais due to a power failure,leaving the train without onboard electricity.
‘To provide passengers with some comfort during the delay,train doors were opened to allow fresh air to circulate,and water was distributed.
‘A rescue train was promptly dispatched from Brussels to carry out a complex transfer operation. This process,supported by local authorities and SNCF Réseau personnel on site,is taking longer than anticipated and is still ongoing.
‘Eurostar teams are doing everything possible to ensure all affected passengers reach their final destination,London St Pancras,as soon as possible.
‘We understand how difficult this experience has been and sincerely apologise for the disruption and discomfort caused. We are also extremely grateful for our passengers’ patience and cooperation throughout.
‘Eurostar will offer all affected customers a compensation package of either a full cash refund (100%) or 300% of the ticket value in the form of an e-voucher.’
In June,services in both directions between London St Pancras International and Gare Du Nord in Paris were suddenly cancelled after two people were killed in separate collisions near Lille.
Some 600 metres of copper cables were also reportedly stolen,with the operator now forced to run alternative,longer routes.
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