By Ethan Singh
EUROSTAR passengers were stranded for more than five hours after a London-bound train got “stuck on the tracks”.
Angry travellers took to social media today, claiming they were left without help and working toilets for hours.
Others complained that the lack of air con and ventilation on stifling Eurostar services was taking its toll on passengers.
The train is believed to be stuck by Guines which is close to Calais.
One passenger told of paramedics onboard, treating people who have become unwell.
The operator said in a statement to one traveller: “We’re sending a replacement train to take you to London, which should arrive shortly. You’ll need to leave the train.
“For your own safety, please remain seated for now and wait for instructions from our onboard team.”
Passengers have managed to get out of the train but there has been “no communication” so far from Eurostar, one has claimed.
Photos shared on social media show people lining by the side of the train while waiting for an update on the incident.
A person tweeted: “After 5 hours… people get out. Still no communication. No new train.”
Meanwhile, a quick-thinking band was filmed serenading stranded passengers to try and lift the spirits after a day of travel chaos.
The moving video was uploaded to X, formerly Twitter, showing the band – understood to be British Indie folk outfit Stornoway – singing a tune called ‘Home’.
Passengers from the Eurostar were seen sitting on the gravel as they enjoyed a moment of respite.
One passenger claimed on Twitter that they had been stuck ” for three hours”.
She added: “There is no air-conditioning, the toilets are overflowing and we have not had a single update from any member of staff in well over two hours.
“This is absolutely appalling. There are young children just trapped on here.”
Another traveller onboard the stuck train echoed these concerns and said old and young people on the train appeared to not be doing well.
A third woman said she was with two “overheating” children, in a train with no toilets.
Eurostar has said they are working on “replacement trains”, but the cause of the chaos today is unknown.
The lack of communication from the company has caused serious concern, with passenger Serge de Gheldere writing: “Almost 3h. Still no news, no air. This is not just an incident or bad luck.
“There is no plan. Instead of opening the doors and trusting the people, they only have one or two doors open and let people almost suffocate. There are asthma patients and infants on board.”
It comes after massive delays plagued the Eurostar last month.
Severe delays and disruptions continued for days after 600metres of copper cables were stolen overnight.
Trains in both directions between London St Pancras International and Gare Du Nord in Paris were either cancelled or delayed for hours.
This was because two people were hit by trains in separate tragedies.
But the travel chaos worsened after a massive theft of cables in northern France forced high-speed trains to move to different routes.