Power Failure Disrupts Eurostar Trains Between London and Paris
Thousands of Eurostar passengers are facing major travel problems after a power failure shut down a key part of the railway in northern France.
The outage occurred near Moussy, approximately 50 kilometres north of Paris, at around 8:30 a.m. on August 4, 2025. This caused a section of the high-speed line between Paris and London to close, affecting trains throughout the day.
So far, at least nine trains between London and Paris have been cancelled, and another 12 have been delayed. Services between Paris and Brussels or Amsterdam have also been disrupted. Trains are being diverted to slower routes, and delays are expected to last until late evening.
Eurostar is advising people to postpone their trip if possible. Affected passengers can change their tickets for free or get a full refund.
Extra staff have been sent to stations to help travellers. The company says it hopes services will return to normal by August 5.
Routes not affected include:
- London to Amsterdam
- Brussels to Amsterdam
- Brussels to London
- Brussels to Cologne
August is one of the busiest times of the year for Eurostar, so the impact is especially difficult for travellers during the school holidays.
What Are Eurostar’s Compensation Rules?
If your Eurostar journey is delayed, you may be entitled to compensation under European passenger rights laws.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Delay of 60–119 minutes:
You can claim 30% of your ticket price as an e-voucher, or 25% in cash. - Delay of 120 minutes or more:
You’re entitled to 60% as an e-voucher, or 50% in cash. - Delay of 180 minutes or more:
You can receive 75% as an e-voucher, or again, 50% in cash.
If you prefer a cash refund, you can request it instead of a voucher, but the compensation percentage will be slightly lower.
These compensation rules apply only if Eurostar is responsible for the delay. Disruptions caused by weather or problems with another railway operator (such as SNCF) are not covered.
How to Claim:
- You’ll need to wait at least 24 hours after your arrival before submitting a claim, so the system can register the delay.
- Claims must be submitted within 60 days of your travel date.
- In case of a cancellation, you can choose to cancel your trip, exchange your ticket free of charge, or request a refund or e-voucher—whichever suits you best.
- If you’re stranded and unable to continue your journey the same day, Eurostar may cover extra costs like meals, transport, accommodation, or phone calls—just be sure to keep all your receipts.
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Over the past 6+ years, with IaM, and working in the travel and immigration sector, Charlie has authored 200+ in-depth guides on Schengen, UK visas & other destinations they have relocated 1,000+ families safely through the system. A Clockwork Practitioner, Charlie also works hard to streamline operations and adheres to the mantra "Task Clients Well".
When they’re not translating policy into plain English, you’ll find them scouting new destinations, collecting local stories, and mastering a new language to better serve our global community.
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