What’s causing the Eurostar chaos in Paris?
Company urges passengers not to travel ‘unless absolutely necessary’ as disruption continues
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Passengers are being urged not to use Eurostar services from Paris to London amid major delays and cancellations caused by French industrial action.
“We recommend not to travel unless absolutely necessary until March 20,” the company said yesterday.
Passengers have reported queueing for up to five hours at Gare du Nord station in the French capital due to a strike by customs officials. One customer said it took her 12 hours to get to the UK via a different route.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Customers who have suffered cancellations and delays are entitled to compensation, while those due to travel from Paris to the UK can exchange their ticket for another journey, according to moneysavingexpert.com.
The industrial action, now in its third week, is due to end today, but customers are being warned that the disruption could continue until the end of the month.
“The regular pre-departure security checks are taking longer than usual and this is causing delays on departure in Paris,” a Eurostar spokesperson said. “We are very sorry for the inconvenience this is causing passengers.”
French customs officials are striking over pay and working conditions, as well as staffing levels ahead of Brexit, which they say will lead to longer processing times for each British passport holder, says The Daily Telegraph.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
“It is believed French staff have been trialling the sort of thorough checks that will be required once the UK leaves the EU, raising the prospect of further disruption at the end of the month,” the paper adds.
-
Political cartoons for February 10Cartoons Tuesday's political cartoons include halftime hate, the America First Games, and Cupid's woe
-
Why is Prince William in Saudi Arabia?Today’s Big Question Government requested royal visit to boost trade and ties with Middle East powerhouse, but critics balk at kingdom’s human rights record
-
Wuthering Heights: ‘wildly fun’ reinvention of the classic novel lacks depthTalking Point Emerald Fennell splits the critics with her sizzling spin on Emily Brontë’s gothic tale
-
Epstein files topple law CEO, roil UK governmentSpeed Read Peter Mandelson, Britain’s former ambassador to the US, is caught up in the scandal
-
Iran and US prepare to meet after skirmishesSpeed Read The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East
-
Israel retrieves final hostage’s body from GazaSpeed Read The 24-year-old police officer was killed during the initial Hamas attack
-
China’s Xi targets top general in growing purgeSpeed Read Zhang Youxia is being investigated over ‘grave violations’ of the law
-
Panama and Canada are negotiating over a crucial copper mineIn the Spotlight Panama is set to make a final decision on the mine this summer
-
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military