Power failure halts Eurostar services

Fallen power lines have forced the cancellation of all Eurostar services

LONDON, England -- All Eurostar services have been suspended after overhead power lines on the British side of the Channel Tunnel fell on to the track.

A Eurostar spokesman said the suspension of 30 services on Friday affects some 10,000 passengers who had been due to travel between London and Paris or Brussels.

Services are expected to resume on Saturday.

The power lines came down near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel at Dollands Moor in Folkestone, Kent.

Two trains already in the tunnel -- one heading for Britain and the other for Paris -- were turned back and all other services cancelled for the rest of the day.

A Eurostar spokesman told the Press Association: "It is very regrettable that this has happened.

"Friday is one of our busiest days and the cancelled services would have carried around 10,000 passengers.

"All passengers have been advised that they can exchange their tickets or get refunds."

The first Eurostar train from Waterloo on Saturday is scheduled at 6am and the spokesman said he was "hopeful" normal service would resume by then.

Eurotunnel shuttle services have not been affected and are running normally.

A Railtrack spokeswoman said engineers were working to restore the downed power lines.