When in London, oops, no changes

[Update 3: This whole single-tunnel concept isn't looking so great, what with 2,000 passengers trapped in it . . . ]
[Update 2: So what's the policy for delayed trains? According to the Eurostar conditions of carriage, it has to be "delayed significantly" in order for a refund to be issued: 21. Refunds for delayed or cancelled trains says "if the train you planned to catch is delayed significantly or cancelled and you decide not to travel or to continue your journey, we may give you a full refund on the unused portion of the ticket if you cancel your reservation in accordance with our instructions and return it to the point of sale where you bought it (or to another point of sale to which we or our agents direct you) at the earliest opportunity.  If you do not cancel it immediately but claim a refund after the two month period of validity from the scheduled date of travel has passed, we may make an administrative charge."]
[Update: Apparently the trains are now fully suspended, with Eurostar advising passengers to stay with friends in London if possible. Still no flexibility to change to the earlier train. High likelihood they'll cancel my train, which will ripple down to staying the evening in the train station and then a verrrrrrrrrry long day tomorrow since I'll miss my early-morning flight from Paris.] 

All Eurostar trains are delayed this evening from London to Paris, the famed Chunnel Eurostar route.

This is due to, I was told upon check-in, "a death on the line" that will delay the train before mine for probably another hour, as well as mine, the last one of the night.

The reason is understandable: the police need to do their work, and it's uncertain whether the fatality occurred inside a Eurostar train or on the tracks. May the deceased rest in peace.

What isn't understandable is the inflexibility of the system to accommodate changes in schedules, when the delay rests clearly on Eurostar, pointing up one very important difference between the airline and train industries.

With airplanes, if the event is unforseen and it is known a flight will be delayed, a passenger is allowed to change to a less delayed (earlier) flights if seats are available.

On the Eurostar between London and all points South, this is not an option. When I asked about changing to the earlier, less-delayed train, I was told it was not possible. When I asked about seats being available, I was told they were but that a non-refundable ticket meant no changes could be made to the reservation.

"Even if the delay is due to this unforseen circumstance," the check-in attendant told me, clearly surprised at the question, "we can not change the ticket. If one person changed to the earlier train, everyone would want to change."

That might be true, but one is certain that not everyone would ask; that's what the airlines get - and apparently Eurostar does not.

For Eurostar, it is apparently better for me to arrive very late in Paris, beyond the time at which my connecting train departs (it leaves at 12:15 AM) and stay the night in the Gare du Nord train station, rather than allow the option of being put on an earlier train.

Guess this is my last Chunnel ride for some time, until this issue is resolved.

iPhoned