Ticket holders’ Olympics plans ruined as Eurostar cancels trains

Ticket holders hoping to travel from the UK to the Olympic Games in Paris have had their plans ruined after Eurostar was forced to cancel services following arson attacks on the French railway network.

Many Team GB fans claimed they did not find out their trains to the city’s Gare du Nord station had been axed until they arrived ready for departure at St Pancras Station in London.

Others said they received notifications and text messages just a few hours before they were due to board.

In a statement earlier on Friday, Eurostar confirmed it would be cancelling one in four services across its network on Saturday and Sunday.

The company blamed the “co-ordinated malicious acts in France affecting the high-speed line between Paris and Lille”.

Eurostar operates approximately 14 London to Paris services a day, each with a capacity of up to 894 passengers.

By 5pm on Friday, three services from London to Paris had been cancelled, with other trips taking up to 90 minutes longer than scheduled because the trains had to be diverted along a different line.

Eurostar advised passengers to postpone their trips on France’s high-speed rail network in light of the disruption.

Among those affected was Toby Morris, whose friend had gifted him Eurostar tickets worth £250 and seats for the boxing at the Olympics on Saturday.

However, his 4.31pm train from London was cancelled and staff told him he would not be able to get on another service that day.

Speaking to The Telegraph shortly before 2pm, Mr Morris said: “I saw a notification on my phone about an hour and a half ago, but then the live timetable wasn’t updated.

“I thought I’d come here to try my chances, but they’ve said I definitely can’t get on another train today, so I just won’t be able to go now.”

Other affected passengers joined long queues in the hope of boarding other trains.

Among them was Cecile Coleman, an Olympics volunteer, who received a text message alerting her to her train’s cancellation less than three hours before it was due to depart.

Fortunately, she was able to book a seat on another train on Saturday evening but said it would disrupt her plans to collect her accreditation for the Games.

The 52-year-old told The Telegraph: “I am meant to be looking after the athletes once they have been presented with their medals.

“I was a bit disappointed [with the cancellation], but fortunately, I was able to sort it out with my insurance.”

Ms Coleman, a French national, added: “I’ll have to reorganise everything in terms of picking up accreditation, but I’m sure I won’t be the only one who is in this position.”

Those due to travel on cancelled services were offered alternative options, including seats on other services if available and ticket refunds, but not for booking fees.

However, even those on trains that did depart faced delays and further problems in France amid ongoing issues affecting the country’s domestic rail services, with some passengers forced to book taxis instead.

After getting up at 4am to fly to London from Cork, Ireland, Mary McCarthy said she was “very annoyed” to find out about the one-hour-and-a-half delay to her arrival time in France.

The retired teacher and her daughter had planned to travel onwards by train from Gare du Nord to their accommodation at Center Parcs Paris.

However, the pair faced having to book a one-hour taxi ride from the station instead.

“I’m not sure how much it will cost, I’m hoping they won’t be more expensive because of the demand,” she told The Telegraph.

The equestrian fan, who is due to watch cross-country eventing on Sunday, added: “It’s all out of Eurostar’s hands, so I wouldn’t have thought we would get compensation.”

A Eurostar spokesman said: “Due to co-ordinated malicious acts in France affecting the high-speed line between Paris and Lille, all high-speed trains going to and coming from Paris are being diverted via the classic line today, Friday July 26.

“This extends the journey time up to an hour and a half. Eurostar expects this situation will last until Monday morning.

“Today, [Friday] Eurostar will cancel 25 per cent of its trains. [This] will also be the case on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28.”