Strikes by train staff forced have Eurostar to cancel almost a quarter of cross-Channel services and the company has said industrial action in Britain and France will cause more disruption over the weekend.
The operator cancelled 12 of its 55 services between London, Paris and Brussels on Friday after train managers walked out at one of the busiest times of the year. The train managers, responsible for customer care and safety, are demanding a pay rise.
Eurostar spokesman Mr Jonathan Kinsella said most affected passengers had been transferred to other trains.
"Everyone should be able to go where they want to go today," he said. Eurostar expects 20,000 travellers today in a weekend rush ahead of Christmas.
About half of Eurostar's 124 train managers, members of train union ASLEF, were stopping work for one day today. Mr Kinsella said the strikers were all based in London.
This comes on the back of industrial action by the drivers of French rail company SNCF, whose blockades in Lille are expected to cause delays throughout the holiday weekend.
The strike action in Lille is expected to extend until December 23rd.
Eurostar is run by the state railways of France and Belgium and Eurostar UK, a consortium including British Airways and National Express Group.