Thousands of travelers hoping to ring in the New Year in Paris or London woke up trapped in darkness beneath the English Channel today, as a massive power failure crippled the Eurostar rail network.

The disruption, now entering its second day, has thrown holiday plans into disarray for thousands—including international commuters and tourists—highlighting the fragility of critical cross-border infrastructure during peak travel seasons. As families scrambled to reach their destinations before the midnight countdown, the breakdown of the overhead power supply turned the high-speed connection into a parking lot.

A Night Beneath the Sea

The chaos began Tuesday when a power outage, compounded by a broken-down LeShuttle train, blocked all routes through the tunnel. While many expected a quick fix, the reality was a grueling ordeal. Passengers reported spending more than six hours stuck onboard trains overnight, suspended in the limbo between the UK and France.

One 27-year-old Parisian, who spoke to the BBC, described a scene of confusion aboard the 19:01 service to Paris. By 06:00 EAT (03:00 GMT), the train had barely moved from the tunnel entrance. He noted that rail staff offered a grim probability regarding their fate: a "50% chance we go to Paris, 50% chance we go back to London."

Ripple Effects and Cancellations

Eurostar management has moved to contain the fallout, announcing plans to run all services on Wednesday. However, they have warned travelers to expect residual delays and cancellations as the network recovers. The logistical headache is already being felt:

• The 09:00 EAT (06:00 GMT) service from London to Paris was cancelled this morning.
• Thousands of passengers are currently displaced, seeking alternative routes or refunds.
• Maintenance crews are working to clear the backlog caused by the overhead supply failure.

For Kenyans traveling in Europe or those with family in the diaspora attempting to cross the channel for the holidays, the disruption serves as a stark reminder of how quickly modern travel plans can unravel. "I guess my new year plan is in the hands of the tunnel operators now," the stranded Parisian lamented, a sentiment shared by thousands currently staring at departure boards rather than fireworks.