A wildcat strike by workers operating the Channel tunnel has blocked train travel between France and Britain since midday Thursday, December 21, train operator Eurostar said. The strike at Eurotunnel operator Getlink has blocked Eurostar trains as well as the trains shuttling trucks and cars as the peak holiday travel season gets underway.
Eurostar said its trains were canceled until further notice, but as of 1345 GMT on its website evening services were still listed as operating. Trains between London, Amsterdam and Brussels were also affected.
France's transport minister said Thursday that an immediate solution must be found. "The blocking of the Channel tunnel is unacceptable. An immediate solution must be found," Transport Minister Clément Beaune wrote on X. "I call on everyone to be responsible and ensure good conditions for traffic and holiday departures."
Getlink said French "trade unions rejected a €1,000 end-of-year bonus announced by management and have called for a strike to demand it be tripled." The announcement of the cancellation of train service sparked dismay in train stations, with people scrambling to change their reservations on their phones.
"So traveling back now and now literally five minutes ago, we've got an email to say that Eurotunnel staff are going on strike and it looks like we can't get a train today," said Nick, 45, as he was trying to return to Britain from the northern French city of Lille. He said the email he received gave him little hope of making it back to London today. "They've told us that because it's December, it's going to be really difficult to now get a booking with the limited space."