Eurostar, which broke down at London's Waterloo Station on Thursday before 400 reporters on a promotional trip, ground to a halt Friday near the French port of Calais, having just made it through the tunnel.
The 400 passengers aboard the ?24 million ($39 million) train were held up for two hours until a replacement train was found to complete the journey to the French capital.
Among those delayed by the second promotional fiasco to hit the plagued line in two days were Sir Bob Reid, chairman of British Rail, and Sir Alastair Morton, joint chairman of Eurotunnel, the new tunnel's operator.
Morton has in the past been a sharp critic of the railways involved in the ?10 billion project, criticizing them for the late delivery of rolling stock.
This is the third breakdown for the service, which was designed to tempt passengers away from airlines and ferries on one of the world's busiest routes.
Freight services started some weeks ago, and passenger travel is due to begin on Nov. 14.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.