Eurostar Train Services Resume Following Unexpected Channel Tunnel Strike

Eurostar services have resumed following an unexpected strike by French union workers in the Channel Tunnel, disrupting travel and freight before Christmas.

The strike, which caused significant disruption at London and Paris train stations, was settled without disclosing specific terms. Unions had been seeking an end-of-year bonus increase from 1,000 euros to 3,000 euros.

With the strike over, Eurostar confirmed a return to normal operations and added six extra trains to accommodate canceled services. The walkout greatly inconvenienced passengers traveling for the holidays and impeded those with critical travel plans.

Eurostar staff at Paris’s Gare du Nord informed travelers of cancellations via megaphone, while lengthy vehicle queues formed in Calais. The Channel Tunnel, operational since 1994, transports passengers via Eurostar and vehicles on cargo shuttles.

The company, mainly owned by French, Belgian, Quebec's public investment bank, and US entities, narrowly avoided bankruptcy during the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to a financial injection from its shareholders, including the French government.