Eurostar Chaos: When Copper Stealers Throw a High‑Speed Party
In the early hours of last Tuesday, a band of marauding thieves swiped 600 metres of copper cable in the Lille region of northern France. Think of it as a really bad Wi‑Fi outage, but for trains.
What That Means for You
- Severe Delays – Trains are running on alternate routes, which means you might be hopping onto a slower connection than usual.
- Last‑Minute Cancellations – If you’re heading to Paris, London, Brussels, or Amsterdam, you’re probably better off staying home.
- Three Crashes in One Day – Stolen cables + a labor‑strike twist = two fatalities that light up the country. We’re truly sorry.
Eurostar’s Quick Advice (Because You’re What You’d Be if You’re Not in a Train)
Eurostar has issued a friendly but urgent memo: “Consider canceling or postponing your trip.” Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done when you’re already stuck on a train that’s not in its proper sector.
Why Are Things Spiralling?
Trains are not just delayed but are also out of position. Think of it like trying to play a game of Tetris, only every block has been randomly moved by someone with a thieving gusto. That chaos is compounded by an ongoing strike, causing a cascade of ripples across routes.
Meanwhile, the LGV Nord high‑speed line remained closed for most of the afternoon, forcing shenanigans across the network. If you’re planning a quick catch‑up coffee in Paris, you might want to reconsider.
Band‑Aid Measures and What’s Next
- Trains on the London‑Brussels‑Amsterdam line are rolling, but you can expect unexpected delays.
- The remainder of the day is still in a “distraction and reposition” mode.
- There’s an ongoing “cable theft” in the same line near Lille. If you’re inkling to take a detour, we’d recommend not doing so.
Get ready for an unexpected coffee break that unfortunately might not be the CTA we think it is.
Stay calm, switch your plans, or just enjoy a cozy day in your living room. The wait may be longer than expected, but at least you’ve got this.
