Eurostar services to and from London were canceled on Saturday after a tunnel under the River Thames was flooded due to heavy rain, disrupting holiday travel plans.
Hundreds of travelers trying to cross the Channel found themselves stranded at St. Pancras station in London and Gare du Nord in Paris. Eurostar, which runs services from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, said its high-speed trains were canceled on Saturday due to flooding.
The UK has been hit by gusty winds and heavy rain brought by Storm Gerrit throughout the festive period. Stormier weather conditions and travel disruptions are expected over the last weekend of the year.
Chris Dillashaw, of San Antonio, Texas, is one of many travelers whose New Year’s Eve plans have been ruined by train cancellations.
“Our whole family is here. We were celebrating Christmas in Paris, then heading to London for the New Year, he told The Associated Press while waiting at the Gare du Nord. It’s quite disappointing to learn by email what happened. »
Christina David, 25, and Georgina Benjamin, 26, from Sydney, said they had nowhere to go after discovering their train from London to Paris – their final leg of a week-long trip in Europe – has been canceled.
“We paid for an expensive hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower,” Ms. Benjamin said. Now we need to book a hotel to spend the night here. We don’t know where to go; we have nowhere to stay. »
Britain’s meteorologist, the Met Office, said more strong winds and rain were expected to hit London and southern England on Saturday. Gusts of up to 80 km/h are expected, with the strongest winds likely along coastal areas.