Train services provided by Eurostar continue to experience delays in northern France, as high-speed train operation resumes following a halt due to lockdown measures.
Eurostar Services Disrupted Due to Overhead Cable Fault in France
Eurostar services connecting Paris with London and other European cities faced cancellations and severe delays on Monday, August 4, 2025, due to an electrical fault on the high-speed rail line between Moussy and Longueil in northern France.
The fault was caused by a failure in an overhead cable that supplies power to the trains on the high-speed rail line. The exact cause of the fault remains unclear, with SNCF, the French national railway company, stating that it is still under investigation.
The power failure started early on Monday, resulting in a temporary closure of the affected track section. At least 17 Eurostar trains were cancelled, and there were major delays for other services. Trains that still ran were diverted to slower classic lines.
SNCF indicated that the repair was significant and could cause additional delays on related high-speed services. However, the repair work was completed according to schedule, and normal traffic resumed by the following day.
This incident is not the first disruption during the holiday season for Eurostar. High prices, especially on the Paris-London route, have been a subject of criticism during this period. The latest disruption is due to a cable theft on train tracks in northern France.
The cable theft in June caused two days of problems on the same line. The cause of the cable theft remains unclear, as previously stated. The French operator SNCF, which has a majority shareholding in Eurostar, made the announcement about resuming normal traffic on the high-speed line.
Belgian railways, Quebec investment fund CDPQ, and US fund manager Federated Hermes hold minority stakes in Eurostar. Eurostar services resumed in northern France on Tuesday, although there were still some delays on other trains.
The latest reports indicate that the underlying reason for the cable fault has not been publicly disclosed. The company has faced criticism for its handling of the situation, with passengers expressing frustration and disappointment at the disruptions. Eurostar has not yet released a statement regarding the cause of the fault or any plans to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The disruption in Eurostar services affected not only the aerospace industry, with business travelers delayed, but also the automotive industry, as car manufacturers using public-transportation for parts delivery were impacted. This incident further highlighted the reliance on reliable transportation infrastructure, such as the high-speed rail line, in various industries, including finance and public-transit. Despite the resolution of the cable fault, questions remain about the company's preparedness and plans to prevent future disruptions.
