Thousands of Eurostar passengers faced severe travel disruption on Tuesday after a significant cable theft near the high-speed line in northern France caused widespread cancellations and delays across the international rail network.
The incident, which occurred overnight, forced Eurostar to cancel several services between London, Paris, and Brussels, leaving travellers stranded at stations on both sides of the Channel. Passengers reported long queues, limited information, and confusion at St Pancras International and other major terminals as the company scrambled to manage the fallout.
In a statement, Eurostar confirmed that “significant infrastructure damage caused by cable theft” had impacted signaling systems, prompting safety concerns and rendering parts of the route temporarily inoperable. Technicians were dispatched early Tuesday morning to assess and repair the damage.
“We sincerely apologise to all our customers for the inconvenience caused. We are working closely with infrastructure managers to restore full service as quickly and safely as possible,” the company said.
According to French rail authorities, the theft involved essential copper cables used in train signaling and power supply. While cable theft is not new, the scale of the damage in this case has been described as “exceptional,” causing knock-on effects throughout the day.
Transport analysts say the incident highlights the vulnerability of critical rail infrastructure to theft and vandalism, particularly as rising metal prices continue to drive illegal activity.
Disgruntled travellers took to social media to vent their frustration, with some reporting missed connections, business meetings, and holiday plans. Eurostar offered affected customers options for refunds or rescheduling, but warned that delays could continue into the following day depending on the pace of repairs.
The British and French authorities are now investigating the theft and reviewing security measures along the rail corridor. Eurostar has urged passengers to check its website or app for real-time updates before heading to stations.
With summer travel season nearing its peak, Tuesday’s chaos serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of international transport links—and the costly consequences when those links are tampered with.