London, December 24: Thousands of Eurostar passengers anxious to get away for Christmas battled for train places out of London yesterday as heavy rains and freezing conditions sparked yet more travel chaos across Europe.
At least three people died in road accidents in Britain and northern Italy after heavy snowfalls, while frozen airports sparked further flight delays and a Ryanair jet slid off the runway in Scotland.
Meanwhile, tourists in Venice were hit by flooding as an exceptional tide took the lagoon to its highest level this year.
In London, thousands of people left stranded by a three-day Eurostar service cancellation gathered in snaking queues at St Pancras International from early in the morning in the hope of finally getting to the continent.
Tempers frayed amid confusion over who would get priority on the reduced number of trains that began running on Tuesday, even though the company has said everybody should be able to travel before Christmas.
Emmanuel Orejas, 41, a Belgian businessman who had been waiting in London for two days with his family, expressed frustration that he was not given priority over passengers who were due to travel later.
“We have been left without knowing anything for several days. And now they are opening the doors to all passengers,” he said.
The situation in Paris was less fraught, with train places available for all travellers.
—Agencies