LONDON -- There were long delays to Eurostar trains overnight, some services were cancelled and hundreds of passengers were left stranded after trespassers blocked the tracks near the French port of Calais.
This is the latest incident in a summer wracked by travel disruptions and diplomatic tensions around Calais, where thousands of migrants are camped in hopes of sneaking through the channel tunnel or on ferries to Britain.
Eurostar said one train had to return to Paris, while a second returned to London on Tuesday evening. Another London-bound train experienced technical difficulties, leaving it stranded, according to BBC News.
Our trains are currently held whilst the authorities deal with trespassers. More updates to follow.— Eurostar (@Eurostar) September 1, 2015
Some passengers bound for London tweeted that they were told people were walking on the roof of their train.
On a @Eurostar apparently "surrounded by migrants". Been asked to "listen out for people walking on the roof" while we wait for the police.— Simon Gentry (@Simon_Gentry) September 1, 2015
Our @eurostar has been stopped outside Calais. Train manager told us there are migrants on the roof. Police are now here. Very very sad— Conor Maples (@ConorMaples) September 1, 2015
French police does not think it's safe for our train to go on. Refugees might still be on board, just outside #calais #eurostar— Kirsten (@KirstenNoben) September 1, 2015
Other passengers on board trains tweeted their frustration at the situation.
Chaos in Calais and the people at @Eurostar still aren't giving us any info #eurostar pic.twitter.com/MGwiF333dv— Cirine D. (@_cirine) September 2, 2015
After a 3hr+ wait on the tracks before the tunnel, our 20.01 @eurostar now heading back to St Pancras #whatamess— Nick J Maxwell (@NickJMaxwell) September 1, 2015
In Paris, people were waiting all night for services to bring them back to London.
Come on @Eurostar 11hr now. We all just want to go home pic.twitter.com/T5AKGNdgAx— Tom Mayes (@Londontravller) September 2, 2015
The situation was similar over the channel in St. Pancras.
St Pancras, 2.20am outside the #Eurostar office. 500 passengers and no Eurostar staff in sight. #eurostarbordel pic.twitter.com/eaI4xw6Idu— Caroline Brothers (@CaroBrothers) September 2, 2015
#eurostar #migrants #migrantcrisis London St Pancras it's 2.38 am. We are still waiting. We are exhausted. pic.twitter.com/qYKltUro63— VIndia (@IndiaaidnI) September 2, 2015
St Pancras 01:20, you know it's shit when journalists are filming and interviewing you on arrival.... pic.twitter.com/EswwaA7qp8— Matthew Connell (@matthewconnell) September 2, 2015
Around 2,000 rail passengers were caught up in the chaos, with Eurostar tweeting that it had dispatched a "rescue train" from London to collect the passengers stranded at Calais.
In a statement emailed to Mashable, Eurostar said it planned to run a normal service on Wednesday with trains leaving on time.
"There are two cancellations (the 07:55 to Paris and 11:13 to London), and the passengers from those will be rebooked on the closest trains on either side of the journey," it said.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press.