Holiday travelers breathed a collective sigh of relief Wednesday as Eurostar and Le Shuttle services returned to normal following a major technical breakdown that paralyzed Channel Tunnel transportation.

The dramatic travel disruption on Tuesday caused widespread chaos, with thousands of passengers experiencing significant delays after an overhead power supply problem and a disabled Le Shuttle train blocked all routes between the United Kingdom and France. Eurostar was forced to cancel most of its London-bound European services, creating scenes of massive crowds stranded at London St Pancras International.

Repair teams worked through the night to resolve the technical issues, and by Wednesday morning, rail services through the tunnel had resumed in both directions. Eurostar cautiously advised passengers to check their travel status, warning of potential lingering delays and last-minute cancellations. Most Wednesday morning services successfully departed, with only three routes to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam being cancelled.

The transportation company offered generous compensation to affected travelers, including a 100% ticket refund and a 150% e-voucher for future travel. Getlink, which operates the Channel Tunnel, confirmed that work continued overnight to address the power supply problem that had brought transit to a standstill.

Some travelers took extraordinary measures to salvage their New Year's Eve plans. Dennis Van Der Steen, who boarded a 20:49 train to Amsterdam, experienced a six-hour wait at the tunnel entrance before the service was forced to return to London. Another resourceful passenger, Floriaen Dullaert, purchased a €20 bicycle in Brussels, took a train to Dunkirk, and ultimately crossed the Channel via a late-night ferry to Dover.

By Wednesday, Le Shuttle services from Folkestone had returned to normal, though some delays persisted at Calais - reduced from an initial six hours to approximately one hour. Eurostar expressed regret for the inconvenience and emphasized their commitment to restoring full service as quickly as possible.

The incident served as a stark reminder of the complex logistics involved in international rail transportation, while also highlighting the resilience of both transport operators and passengers in managing unexpected challenges.