On January 20, 2024, approximately 340 passengers found themselves stranded on a Eurostar train travelling from Amsterdam to London through Belgium.
The incident occurred late on Saturday evening, just hours after Eurostar assured travellers that train services between Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Germany were nearly back to normal following severe disruptions caused by adverse winter weather conditions.
The 18:45 service, destined for London from Amsterdam, came to an unexpected halt near Machelen, southeast of Brussels, around 20:30.
Passengers onboard reported a sudden loud bang, accompanied by a flash of light above one of the carriages, followed by aggressive braking and a swift power outage.
Patrick English, Director of Political Analytics and YouGov’s spokesperson, who was among the passengers, took to social media to share his account of the incident.
He described the unsettling moments when the power cut off and revealed that all passengers were subsequently relocated to the front of the train, where power was restored.
In the ensuing chaos, travellers rushed to secure hotel accommodations in Brussels for the night, with Eurostar assuring reimbursement for the unplanned expenses.
As the night unfolded, passengers were requested to complete paperwork to authorize their disembarkation at Brussels.
The situation remained tense as an auxiliary locomotive was awaited to tow the stranded train. Despite the delays, Eurostar staff worked diligently to manage the situation and assured passengers that hotel stays and alternative transportation expenses would be reimbursed.
The Red Cross of Machelen en Diegem played a crucial role during the crisis, with nine volunteers mobilizing to assist those on board.
The organization shared updates on social media, stating that they were informed of the situation around 23:00 and promptly dispatched volunteers to lend a helping hand.
The stranded passengers faced uncertainty and discomfort as they awaited rescue, with the Red Cross providing support and Eurostar staff coordinating efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone on board.
Finally, at around 03:00 in the morning, an auxiliary locomotive arrived at the scene, successfully towing the train to Brussels Midi station.
Eurostar, facing criticism for the disruption despite earlier claims of a return to normalcy, has pledged a thorough investigation into the incident.
Passengers expressed frustration over the unexpected ordeal, emphasizing the need for transparency regarding the circumstances leading to the train’s stalling.
As Eurostar strives to resume regular operations in the wake of challenging winter conditions, this incident serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of transportation systems in adverse weather and the importance of robust contingency plans to ensure the safety and satisfaction of passengers.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
