Passengers faced travel chaos on Thursday as strike action disrupted Eurostar services and London’s Euston station was closed after trains were cancelled after wind caused havoc.
Avanti, who run services on the West Coast main line out of Euston, have reported that the damage to the overhead electric wires between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction means that all lines are blocked.
Euston has been closed with social media awash with stories of travel misery, chaos and disruption.
This is leading to trains from London to Chester, Birmingham, Crewe, Edinburgh, Manchester and Liverpool to be cancelled or delayed.
The issue was seemingly caused by a plastic bag that was been caught on the overhead power lines.
Meanwhile, Eurostar services were brought to a halt due to an “unexpected” strike by Channel Tunnel workers, disrupting train travel between London and continental Europe ahead of the Christmas weekend.
Trains are unable to travel through the tunnel “until mid-afternoon at earliest,” Eurostar said in a post on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Getlink SE, which operates the tunnel, said in a statement that unions called a strike to demand that the company triple its year-end bonus to workers.
Trade unions rejected an exceptional €1,000 bonus announced by management, Getlink said.
The problems spread to the skies as British Airways halted two dozen domestic and European flights due to Storm Pia.
Scottish airline Loganair has also grounded some services, while railway service TransPennine Express has issued “do not travel advice”.
BA, which is owned by International Consolidated Airlines Group SA said air traffic control restrictions were imposed because of the storm, leading to necessary adjustments in their schedule.
In a statement to Sky News, BA apologised for the disruption, assuring customers that they are diligently working to restore flight operations.