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Trespassers cause more Eurostar delays Calais migrant crisis: Trespassers cause Eurostar delays
(about 1 hour later)
Trespassers on tracks near the Channel Tunnel in France have caused major disruption for hundreds of passengers. Trespassers on rail tracks near the Channel Tunnel in northern France caused major disruption for hundreds of Eurostar passengers.
Two Eurostar services were forced to turn back overnight, one to London and one to Paris. Two services had to turn back overnight - one to London and one to Paris - and six trains were stopped as tracks were blocked for more than four hours.
In total six services were stopped for about two hours while the tracks were cleared. There were also reports of suspected migrants on train roofs. Police were called to SNCF tracks about 2km away from the tunnel, amid reports of migrants climbing on trains.
Eurotunnel said extra tunnel security had led to migrants moving elsewhere.
A spokesman said the tracks - used by Eurostar and national network freight trains - were blocked between 21:45 and 02:23 local time.
Another London-bound Eurostar train had a technical fault on Tuesday night and could not get back to Paris, leaving passengers stranded.
The latest delays affected Eurostar services but freight and shuttle services were unaffected, Eurotunnel, which manages and operates the Channel Tunnel, said.
Cross-Channel services have been delayed several times in recent months by migrants trying to reach the UK.Cross-Channel services have been delayed several times in recent months by migrants trying to reach the UK.
Another London-bound train had a technical fault on Tuesday night and could not get back to Paris, leaving passengers stranded. 'Abandoned in cold'
'Abandoned' Some travellers said they had seen migrants on top of other trains, and many complained of their frustrations at the delays and re-routing overnight.
Police were called to Calais on Tuesday evening to reports of people on the tracks at entrances to the Channel Tunnel.
Some travellers said they had seen migrants on top of other trains, and many complained of their frustrations at the delays and re-routing.
Passenger Danny Bell, on a train from Paris to London, tweeted: "We've been abandoned on a platform somewhere in the cold with NO INFORMATION."Passenger Danny Bell, on a train from Paris to London, tweeted: "We've been abandoned on a platform somewhere in the cold with NO INFORMATION."
Fellow traveller Simon Gentry added: "On a Eurostar apparently 'surrounded by migrants'. Been asked to 'listen out for people walking on the roof' while we wait for the police."Fellow traveller Simon Gentry added: "On a Eurostar apparently 'surrounded by migrants'. Been asked to 'listen out for people walking on the roof' while we wait for the police."
Eurostar, which said the delays had affected up to 2,000 passengers, referred only to the people on the tracks as trespassers, but a number of commuters said they saw or were told of migrants in the area.Eurostar, which said the delays had affected up to 2,000 passengers, referred only to the people on the tracks as trespassers, but a number of commuters said they saw or were told of migrants in the area.
'Moving upstream' 'Robust' service
Eurotunnel - which manages and operates the Channel Tunnel - said tracks had been "blocked by groups of migrants that French police were trying to deal with". Eurotunnel said tracks had been "blocked by groups of migrants that French police were trying to deal with".
Spokesman John Keefe said the problems had been on the tracks used for Eurostar services and freight trains. Spokesman John Keefe said: "Due to increased security at the Channel Tunnel they [migrants] are now trying to get on the tracks which Eurostar and freight trains use."
"Due to increased security at the Channel Tunnel they [migrants] are now trying to get on the tracks which Eurostar and freight trains use, and 'moving upstream'."
A spokesman for Eurostar said passengers hoping to travel later should expect a normal service but added that two trains had been cancelled "in order to ensure the service is as robust as possible".A spokesman for Eurostar said passengers hoping to travel later should expect a normal service but added that two trains had been cancelled "in order to ensure the service is as robust as possible".
Passengers due to travel on the 07:55 BST service from London to Paris, and those who had booked the 11:13 GMT Paris to London train will be transferred to other services at times close to their intended departure, the spokesman said.
The crisis in Calais is part of a wider migrant surge into Europe from north Africa and the Middle East.The crisis in Calais is part of a wider migrant surge into Europe from north Africa and the Middle East.
Last month, Home Secretary Theresa May warned the ongoing migrant crisis could shift from Calais to other ports, saying she was "well aware of the possibility of displacement".
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