In a move that clearly reflects Eurostar's attempts to avert a repeat of the chaos that left thousands of passengers stranded in the Channel Tunnel for hours, the company has announced a cancellation of all its services for Sunday.

The widespread disruption was caused by the breakdown of as many as five trains in the Tunnel on Friday night, leaving almost 2,000 passengers trapped in the Channel Tunnel without light, air- conditioning, water or food. Though special trains were planned overnight to transport people, there were delays due to the chaos.

Last night, nearly 750 people aboard a Paris-to-London Eurostar train failed at Thurrock Viaduct after exiting the tunnel on the UK side. As per a company spokeswoman, another train went to tow it to St Pancras, but could not to cross the viaduct in Kent. The passengers were then transferred to a rescue unit and taken back to London.

Saying that Eurostar intends running test trains to figure out the problems that brought about the commotion, a company spokesman said: "We certainly don't want any of our travellers put in the position that they were last night and this morning."

Eurostar CEO Richard Brown, who reached St Pancras as people arrived, said the failure of the trains resulted from extreme weather conditions; and that the affected passengers will be given a full refund, £150 in compensation and a free return ticket.