An unexpected strike by French workers on the Eurotunnel — the undersea link between the United Kingdom and continental Europe — brought rail services across the English Channel to a halt on Thursday, threatening many commuters’ Christmas holiday plans.
“As a result of today’s strike call by representatives of the French Eurotunnel staff unions, our terminals in France and the UK are fully disconnected and our terminals are closed,” a spokesman for Getlink, the company that manages the tunnel, said in an email. Report.
The company said unions had rejected a 1,000 euro ($1,097.60) bonus payment announced by management and wanted to triple that amount.
Union officials of the company could not immediately be reached.
Train operator Eurostar said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter: “We recommend postponing your journey if possible, even if only until tomorrow.”
On its travel update page, Eurostar said train services to and from London had been suspended.
Several unverified social media posts from people trying to get to London or Paris for Christmas said they were stuck on trains or stations. Some cited that trains may have returned to their departure stations.
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