Eurostar delays: what to know today

Published on Aug 11, 2025, 8:49 am CDT

6 min read

Eurostar delays are affecting services on August 11, with late arrivals reported at London St Pancras International, Paris Gare du Nord, and on the Dutch network. Eurostar warns of scattered cancellations alongside knock-on lateness, including diversions on certain Belgian and Dutch segments. The disruptions follow last week's electrical fault in northern France that canceled at least 17 trains and left residual timetable impacts into this week. Travelers should check live status before heading to the station and allow extra time for security and border checks.

Key Points

Why it matters: Peak-summer Eurostar delays ripple across the London, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam corridor.
Travel impact: Selected trains canceled today, with network-wide lateness and occasional diversions.
What's next: Planned Belgian engineering works will cancel specific trains from August 16 to 31.
Tip: Verify your train's platform and gate times before arriving at St Pancras or Gare du Nord.
Rights: Compensation may apply for delays of 60 minutes or more.

Snapshot

Eurostar's live updates flag delays today at London St Pancras International, Paris Gare du Nord, Brussels-Midi, and on the Dutch network. Two London-Paris services, 9039 and 9046, are canceled on August 11, and a Rotterdam-Brussels-London service is being diverted with extended journey times. Eurostar recommends checking day-of-travel status and arriving at the ticket gates at the time on your ticket to avoid missing boarding. For rolling advisories and any last-minute changes, use Eurostar's Travel Updates page at eurostar.com/travel-updates. Expect crowding in waiting areas during the afternoon peak as late inbound sets cascade through the timetable. Bring water, as hot weather is forecast to intensify during the midday period. See updates here: https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/travel-updates

Background

The latest Eurostar delays come after an overhead power fault on August 4 in northern France shut part of the high-speed line, canceling at least 17 trains and forcing others onto slower routes. French infrastructure manager SNCF said repairs allowed services to resume the next day, but residual disruption lingered while operations normalized. Earlier in the summer, cable theft near Lille also disrupted Channel services and required temporary timetable changes. Eurostar has additionally published forward cancellations tied to engineering works on the Belgian network later in August, along with operational schedule adjustments through early September on parts of its network. Together, these incidents show how cross-border high-speed operations remain sensitive to infrastructure failures, heat-related restrictions, and terminal congestion. For general day-of-travel tools, Eurostar lists live departures and service information here: https://www.eurostar.com/us-en/travel-info/service-information

Latest Developments

Eurostar delays today across hubs

Eurostar's advisory page lists repeated "train delayed due to earlier late arrival" notices at London St Pancras International and Paris Gare du Nord, plus delays on the Dutch network tied to an overhead power-supply problem. Two London-Paris trains, 9039 and 9046, are canceled today, and train 9115 is being diverted between Rotterdam and Brussels, extending times to Lille-Europe and London. Additional operational notices cite platform late arrivals, maintenance issues, and heat reminders for August 12 to 14. Eurostar instructs travelers to arrive at the ticket gates at the time shown on the ticket, since late arrival can result in missed boarding. Planned cancellations related to Belgian engineering works will affect specific services from August 16 to 31, and one additional service, 9025, between August 17 and 31. Check the operator's live board before you depart. Live updates: https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/travel-updates

After last week's French power fault

High-speed traffic in northern France resumed on August 5 after an overhead cable fault halted many services the day prior, including at least 17 Eurostar trains. SNCF reported completion of repairs, with trains moving again and some lingering delays while operations stabilized. Eurostar's schedule on August 5 still showed a few cancellations between Paris and London, then progressively improved. The episode followed earlier summer disruptions from cable theft near Lille, part of a spate of infrastructure incidents that punctuated peak travel. Travelers should expect occasional speed restrictions, re-routing over classic lines, and crowding at terminals until the network fully rebalances. France24's recap of the recovery and newswire reports from AFP provide the broad timeline and scope. Read the recap: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20250805-eurostar-still-faces-delays-as-high-speed-train-travel-resumes-in-northern-france

Engineering works and forward cancellations

Eurostar has pre-announced targeted cancellations linked to Belgian network works from August 16 to 31, including trains 9149 and 9152, and has flagged train 9025 as canceled from August 17 to 31. The operator also notes wider schedule adjustments through early September due to operational constraints. If you hold tickets on affected dates, consider an earlier or later departure, or select an alternate day to avoid tight connections. Details are being updated on the Travel Updates page. Forward plan here: https://www.eurostar.com/us-en/travel-info/travel-updates

Analysis

Why do Eurostar delays cascade so quickly in summer. First, cross-border high-speed routes concentrate trains through a few chokepoints, including the Channel Tunnel and terminal throat tracks at St Pancras and Gare du Nord. When a set arrives late, it often turns back late, rippling into the next departure. Second, power-supply and overhead-line incidents on high-speed lines leave few easy detours. Diversions over classic tracks keep you moving, but at lower speeds that elongate trips and consume crew hours and platform slots. Third, heat can impose speed reductions or cause component faults that add marginal minutes at exactly the wrong time of day. That is why a single infrastructure fault in northern France triggered cancellations one day and residual lateness the next. The network then needs several cycles to re-time sets and crews.

For travelers, two practical steps matter. Monitor live status and platform assignments right up to entry, since St Pancras gate times are enforced. Understand your rights. Eurostar states that delays of 60 minutes or more are eligible for compensation, typically 25 percent of the ticket price from 60 to 119 minutes and 50 percent at 120 minutes or more, with voucher or cash options subject to policy. Claims generally open 24 hours after travel and remain available for several months. Review the operator's compensation page before submitting a claim. Eurostar compensation guidance: https://www.eurostar.com/us-en/travel-info/service-information/claiming-compensation

Final Thoughts

Today's picture is mixed, with punctual trains running alongside isolated cancellations and diversions. If you are traveling, build a buffer at origin, keep your phone charged, and watch the live board to avoid missing an announced gate time. If your arrival is delayed by at least 60 minutes, collect proof and file for compensation once the claim window opens. For later-August trips, check whether Belgian engineering works affect your service and consider adjusting the day or time. With a little flexibility and vigilance, you can reduce the friction from Eurostar delays.