It seems that international train operator Eurostar is going to be hit by UK Rail strikes, as it adjusts services, as well as out-right cancelling services for a day.
The train operator is running a revised service on the 23 and 24 December, with several trains outright cancelled.
These include:
Friday 23 December:
London to Paris
- Train number 9050 – departure London 19:01 – arrival Paris 22:17
- Train number 9054 – departure London 20:01 – arrival Paris 23:17
Paris to London
- Train number 9047 – departure Paris 17:13 – arrival London 18:30
Cancelled trains on Saturday 24 December:
London to Paris
- Train number 9010 – departure London 08:34 – arrival Paris 11:50
- Train number 9032 – departure London 14:31 – arrival Paris 17:47
- Train number 9036 – departure London 15:31 – arrival Paris 18:47
- Train number 9040 – departure London 16:31 – arrival Paris 19:47
Paris to London
- Train number 9023 – departing Paris 11:13 – arrival London 12:30
- Train number 9047 – departing Paris 17:13 – arrival London 18:30
In addition, there will be an impact from the UK National Rail Strike on the 24th of December, with onward services impacted.
If your Eurostar train is cancelled, you can choose one of the following options:
- Exchange your booking for free to travel at a different time/date in the same travel class, subject to availability. OR
- Cancel your booking and claim a Eurostar e-voucher valid for 12 months OR
- Cancel your booking and claim a refund from where you originally bought your ticket.
Eurostar has a full page on how to do this here.
The 26th December however…
Passengers hoping for a quick getaway from the Eurostar-served cities after Christmas Day are going to find it hard. Due to strike action by Network Rail staff, who manage the railway infrastructure in the UK, the high-speed line that Eurostar uses will be closed all day on 26 December.
As a result, the operator has to cancel all trains due to run on Monday 26 December, for all Eurostar destinations.
The options for those passengers affected are the same as above:
- Exchange your booking for free to travel at a different time/date in the same travel class, subject to availability. OR
- Cancel your booking and claim a Eurostar e-voucher valid for 12 months OR
- Cancel your booking and claim a refund from where you originally bought your ticket.
Eurostar is advising that trains are busier than normal over the festive period, with capacity limited. They advise that passengers “do not go to the station unless you have exchanged your ticket on to a train which is due to run”.
Discontent continues
The winter of discontent is preparing to go into full freeze as several strikes are due to hit next week in the run-up to the Christmas and New Year weekend. These include:
- Rail (RMT)
- Nurses (through the Royal College of Nursing)
- Ambulance Drivers (Unison)
- Highway Workers
- UK Border Force Workers (PCS Union)
- Royal Mail (CWU)
- Driving Examiners (PCS Union)
For travellers, you are going to need a lot of patience over the holiday season and perhaps well into the UK.
Those who work in certain public services are less than happy at the moment.
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