**Eurostar trains modified overnight will be tested on Monday as Channel Tunnel services are suspended for a third day.**Tens of thousands of passengers have had journeys cancelled after train breakdowns in what the company said were unprecedented winter conditions.
Eurostar has altered trains to try to stop water getting into the electrics.
The company hopes to announce on Monday evening when services will resume but has warned it will take time to clear the backlog of stranded passengers.
Cause of problems
Eurostar said snow shields used to protect the electrics of its trains have worked for the 15 years it has been running services through the tunnel.
EUROSTAR ADVICE
- If your journey is not essential, do not travel
- A full refund will be offered to those whose journeys have been affected
- Passengers whose journeys were severely disrupted on Friday or Saturday will also be given £150 compensation and a free return ticket
- Hotels will be offered for those who had wanted to travel on Sunday
- All updates will be posted on theEurostar websiteand given out to news outlets
Are you a Eurostar passenger
But the company said the weather in northern France over the past few days had been worse than anything previously experienced in that time.
Eurostar has warned it will be not able to carry all of the passengers due to travel over the next few days as well as the backlog of those whose journeys have already been cancelled.
It is advising people to postpone their trip unless absolutely necessary.
Eurostar commercial director Nick Mercer said the company believed it had now identified the cause of the problems.
“We will be testing the trains with the new modifications in the deteriorating snow conditions,” he said.
“On the assumption that that works, then we hope to be able to make an announcement on the resumption of service.”
Passenger compensation
More than 2,000 passengers were trapped on five trains in the Channel Tunnel on Friday and Saturday amid wintry weather.
There was a severely disrupted service on Saturday, with 31,000 ticket holders forced to change their travel plans.
All services were cancelled on Sunday and a further 27,000 people were left stranded.
Passengers who have suffered delays will be offered a full refund, £150 compensation and a free return ticket.
On Sunday, all ferry services from Dover to Dunkirk, Boulogne and Calais were running, easing traffic queues that had built up.
Freezing conditions continued to disrupt travel in other parts of the country, including flight cancellations or delays at Bristol, Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh and Inverness airports.
In Scotland, forecasters warned heavy snow would continue to affect the west and north of the country.
Motorists suffered hour-long delays after black ice and a jack-knifed lorry affected the A80 at Castlecary in central Scotland.
Police in the Highlands advised motorists not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
FORECAST FROM BBC WEATHER
More details from BBC Weather
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