Cold weather has caused operational problems for Eurostar.

Eurostar has continued to suspend its services for the third day running today (21 December) as bad weather continues to hamper its operations.

Heavy snowfall in northern France is blamed for the disruption, but Eurostar says it has now identified the modifications that are required for the cross-tunnel operations to be restarted.

According to statements on the Eurostar website, its “winterisation” programme which it carries out each year has not been able to protect the trains from the acute weather conditions in France.

On Friday night (18 December) hundreds of people were left stranded inside Eurostar carriages after six trains broke down when the cold weather disabled electrics.

Passengers stuck on the trains until they could be rescued complained of being left without food or water in the cramped trains, with little air to circulate. Eurostar has offered these customers an enhanced compensation package including a refund, an additional free return journey, £150 in cash and any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. 

Eurostar has since suspended all journeys while it carries out tests to ascertain the root of the problems and ensure customer safety would not be compromised.

A statement on the Eurostar website said: “We sincerely regret having to take this decision and we understand how frustrated and disappointed travellers will be, particularly those who have been waiting to travel for the last two days.”

The company is advising people with non-essential travel to request a refund or try and change their booking to a later date. Passengers who had bookings for the 19, 20, 21 December have also been told they can apply for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses including hotel accommodation, meals and transport.

Eurotunnel has said it did everything in its power to help Eurostar: “In very difficult conditions Eurotunnel made the decision to assist the Eurostar trains and their passengers,” said Pascal Sainson, Operations Director.

“In order to conduct these operations in complete safety, Eurotunnel mobilised substantial extra staff and technical resources and also made the decision to interrupt its own services. Eurotunnel has done everything it can to resolve the situation.”

The Met Office is warning of further cold spells with temperatures plummeting to as low as minus 10 degrees. The north and south east of the UK is expected to feel the brunt of the sleet and snow and the cold snap is expected to continue through the week.

The UK transport infrastructure never fails to surprise when a spell of cold weather hits. Already airports across the country have been forced to close due to the “adverse weather”, despite the advanced warning over the impending cold conditions. The Eurostar problems caused travel chaos on the M20, A2 and A20 with cars backed up for miles moving barely an inch as travellers endeavoured to make their channel crossing.

It all begs the question what on earth this country would do should we experience the extreme weather that other countries are enduring at the moment?

According to reports, the east coast of the US has experienced blizzard-like weather, with up to 25 inches of snow reported in Washington.