<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">At least 14 Eurostar trains were cancelled today after flooding in tunnels in the southern UK, stranding thousands of passengers just ahead of New Year’s Eve.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The tunnels near Ebbsfleet International Station in Kent were inundated as the Met Office issued weather warnings for rain, snow, and ice across large parts of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Eurostar, which runs services from London to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam via Ashford, midway between London and the southern English coast, apologised to customers for the disruption.</div><div><br></div><div>Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, Southeastern Railway said, “No highspeed trains are expected to run today between St Pancras and Ashford International.”</div><div><br></div><div>“We are working to fix the flooding in the tunnels.”</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement, Southeastern added that “flooding between Ebbsfleet International and London St Pancras International means that all lines are blocked.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Disruption is expected until the end of the day.”</div><div><br></div><div>It said flooding had affected both railway tunnels near Ebbsfleet, meaning both tunnels are closed.</div><div><br></div><div>“This means no trains can run between London St Pancras International and Ebbsfleet International,” Southeastern added.</div><div><br></div><div>The disruption comes after French unions ended a wildcat strike that had stranded holidaymakers and held up freight just days before Christmas.</div><div><br></div><div>The surprise walkout by workers that blocked the tunnel sparked hours of chaos at rail hubs in Paris and London.</div><div><br></div><div>Eurostar train services resumed on Dec 22 after an agreement was reached.</div><div><br></div><div>Eurotunnel unions said negotiations had yielded “results that satisfy us”.</div><div><br></div><div>Eurostar is owned 55.75% by French state-owned SNCF Voyageurs.</div><div><br></div><div>It almost went bankrupt during the Covid-19 pandemic but was saved with a €290-million bailout from shareholders including the French government. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>