An Amsterdam-bound Eurostar train that departed London's St Pancras broke down on Thursday morning, leaving about 700 passengers with no power or working toilets for more than eight hours.
The train left the London train station at 8.16am but broke down about half an hour later near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel in Kent.
The incident was caused by an overhead electric cable falling on the train, Eurostar said.
Passengers reported that the train had no power and the toilets were not working.
On social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Eurostar described the situation on-board as “very challenging”.
“Following a complicated situation due to the position of the train and the track infrastructure, it’s meant that certain safety procedures had to be adhered to before we could move the train,” a spokesman for the operator said.
“The train is currently in the process of being brought back to London.
“All affected passengers on board will be met in London with refreshments and will receive enhanced compensation.
“Eurostar are sorry for issues caused that customers have experienced today.”
One of the passengers, Ben Williams, told The Independent: “I think the staff are all very stressed themselves, and I don’t think they’re being kept very well up to date.
“We were offered one free food item, that was after we’d been stationary for about four or five hours.
“By that point, I’d already bought myself a sandwich, having been stationary for a couple of hours.
“To be honest, I’ve been pacing myself just because, obviously, the toilets aren’t functioning.”
Another passenger, Jessica Chambers, told the BBC: “It truly feels like an emergency situation but there’s no communication from staff.”
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
