a day later than planned

We have returned, but before I move on to talking about Paris (we had a wonderful time!) I thought I would explain what happened to us as it was crazy. I will try not to use too many exclamation marks but this is an exclamation mark type post.

We ended up getting stuck under the sea for 5 hours without any power! The train goes through the Channel Tunnel which is under the sea between UK and France. When it was about half way across there was a screeching of brakes and the train came to a halt. So we sat and waited as the intercom failed, and then the air went off, and then the lights went off, first in the carriages and then in the sections between the carriages. Some lights came on in the tunnel so you could see a little. It got incredibly hot and airless, we went to the buffet car where they were handing out water in the semi-dark (see picture below which was taken with a slow shutter speed). After hours and hours another train came and pushed our train out slowly in sections. Sometimes it got completely pitch dark so we had to use the glow from our mobile phones to see. It was such a relief when finally we were pushed out at the other end. So good to be able to breath fresh cold air :) We were only home a day later than we planned! I am not sure if it was to do with the snow in London or if it was due to some other reason. Apparently we will be compensated with a free return trip on the train so perhaps we will be back in Paris sooner than we thought.

Now that it is over I look back and can think it was quite an interesting experience. Makes me think of submarine movies like Das Boot; sitting waiting and listening at the bottom of the sea, getting very hot and the air running out.

However it didn't mar the holiday, tomorrow I will share some Paris photos :)

Comments

[laura]

That sounds horrific! These things are always entertaining once they are over and open to reminiscing but I would not have wanted to go through it. I wonder if they think most people will be too scared to get back on the train and use their complimentary tickets? You must be very brave :)

[Cheryl]

Wow, that would have made me extremely uncomfortable.

[famapa]

I heard about the train being stuck on the the radio news today but they didn't say for how long it was in there for! 5 hours!!! Good lord, that is sooo long (I'm doing all the exclamation marks for you)! Did you panic at any point? Did anyone? What an experience though, sitting at the bottom of the sea for that long... I mean what do you do? Sleep? Play hide & seek? Steal stuff from the suitcases of others?

Thank you so much for your Oxford tips, so good to have a local to ask!

[Ali]

Scary stuff - glad you made it back out okay,

[kate]

Oh how terrifying!! I would have gone mental!! Cool about the freebie tix though :)

[Simon Kendrick]

That sounds horrible! I'm glad it didn't ruin the holiday, must have been quite an uncomfortable way to begin it

[lisa]

What a scary experience. Did the staff inform you of what was going on at all times?

[Gaunt]

Being stuck in a hot dark place sounds like my idea of a nightmare. I can't wait to see the pics!

[ai]

5 hours is a long time. glad you made it okay!

[Rosalind]

I thought of you when I saw Design sponge's Paris city guide!! Oh well, maybe for your next free trip!

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/02/paris-design-guide.html

[Brinja]

Yaks, sound scary. I just saw "Das boot" the other day -I think it's a crazy scary movie.

[Brinja]

Hey there,
I just tagged you. Hope you are up for it!

[lea]

hey thanks for the better wishes and good to hear that you made it back safely in spite of the dreadful many hours in the tunnel..must have been truly unnerving. looking forward to the paris pics!

[alice]

Thanks for the sympathy! It turned out to be quite the adventure.

Thanks also for the tagging! I will get on it after I have sorted out the Paris photos :)