Overview

• Eurostar train 9117 lost power between Lille and Calais on July 6, leaving about 800 passengers stranded for over five hours without electricity, air-conditioning or working toilets.
• A replacement train dispatched from Brussels was delayed, prompting passengers to evacuate onto the tracks where local rescue teams and paramedics provided water and medical assistance.
• Eurostar apologised for the disruption, resumed services on the Channel Tunnel route and offered affected customers either a full cash refund or e-vouchers worth 300% of their ticket value.
• The operator is collaborating with SNCF Réseau and local authorities to investigate the power fault and strengthen its emergency response and communication protocols.
• The July breakdown follows June’s fatal collisions near Lille and the theft of 600 metres of cable on the same line, underscoring ongoing technical and security challenges for Eurostar.