Eurostar passengers left stranded in Paris due to e-gate malfunction

Hundreds of Eurostar passengers are facing delays at Gare du Nord in Paris due to a technical issue with UK Border Force e-gates, causing frustration and inconvenience for travelers.

Eurostar issued a statement apologizing for the delays and advised customers to postpone their journeys to London if possible. The delays affected both passengers leaving London and those heading to the city, with services being disrupted on both ends.

At the station, hundreds of people, including families with young children on their half-term break, were seen waiting in long queues for passport control. The self-service e-gates, which automatically read travelers’ passports, were not functioning properly, leading to severe delays and last-minute cancellations.

Passengers like Kesha Hancock from Hertfordshire expressed their frustration, with Kesha describing the situation as a stressful end to their holiday. She speculated that Brexit may have been a contributing factor to the delays.

Other travelers, like Lizanne O’Connor from Surrey, described the scene as slightly chaotic and called for more information and clarity from Eurostar staff. Despite the stressful situation, most passengers, including staff, remained calm.

Eurostar assured passengers that they were working to resolve the technical issue as quickly as possible and offered affected customers exchanges free of charge or a full refund. They reiterated their apology for the inconvenience caused and advised travelers to postpone their journeys if possible.