Eurostar services to Brussels suspended following fatal train crash

Eurostar services to Belgium remain suspended today (Wednesday February 17) following Monday's crash between two commuter trains outside Brussels in which 25 people were killed and dozens of others were seriously injured.

A message on Eurostar's website urges people who do not need to travel to defer or cancel their trips. They can exchange tickets for travel at a later date or claim a full refund.

Anyone due to travel should check their travel insurance to see if they are entitled to refunds for accommodation and other services.

Eurostar passengers who are stranded in Brussels are being offered up to £150 for hotel accommodation, but the train operator has stressed it will not pay any other out of pocket expenses. Again, passengers in this situation should check their travel insurance to see if they are entitled to compensation.

Eurostar services to Lille in France are running with some delays and passengers travelling to Brussels can use their tickets on services to Lille, from where there is an emergency bus service to Brussels Midi station. Seats on buses are being reserved for those with an essential reason to travel.

Passengers who do travel to Brussels via Lille will need to transfer from Eurostar's train station at Lille to Lille Flanders station, which is a short walk away, to pick up the shuttle bus. The journey to Brussels takes over 90 minutes.

Alternatively, they can switch to the local commuter train services between Lille Flanders and Brussels Midi. Eurostar tickets are being accepted on these trains, but the operator warned that capacity is 'extremely limited' and urged people not to travel 'unless absolutely necessary'.

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