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Calais migrant crisis: Eurostar passengers reveal 'appalling' experience | Calais migrant crisis: Eurostar passengers reveal 'appalling' experience |
(35 minutes later) | |
Eurostar passengers stranded overnight in Calais have returned to London, saying they were left on a dark train for more than four hours as migrants climbed onto their carriages. | Eurostar passengers stranded overnight in Calais have returned to London, saying they were left on a dark train for more than four hours as migrants climbed onto their carriages. |
A Paris-to-London service was forced to stop near Calais on Tuesday night after migrants got on to the tracks. | A Paris-to-London service was forced to stop near Calais on Tuesday night after migrants got on to the tracks. |
The train then developed a technical fault, with passengers finally arriving at St Pancras at about 11:00 BST. | The train then developed a technical fault, with passengers finally arriving at St Pancras at about 11:00 BST. |
Eurostar apologised, and said it was advising customers on compensation. | |
Passengers said their experience had been "horrendous" and "appalling". | Passengers said their experience had been "horrendous" and "appalling". |
The Eurostar train was stopped following reports of migrants climbing on trains about 1.2 miles (2km) from the Channel Tunnel. | The Eurostar train was stopped following reports of migrants climbing on trains about 1.2 miles (2km) from the Channel Tunnel. |
Two trains also had to turn back on Tuesday night - one to London and one to Paris - as the track was blocked between 21:45 and 02:23 local time. | Two trains also had to turn back on Tuesday night - one to London and one to Paris - as the track was blocked between 21:45 and 02:23 local time. |
Imogen Cuthbertson was among the passengers who had been stranded in Calais and told the BBC her experience had been "horrendous". | Imogen Cuthbertson was among the passengers who had been stranded in Calais and told the BBC her experience had been "horrendous". |
She boarded the 19:15 train from Paris, but said the train "just stopped" about two hours into the journey, near Calais. | She boarded the 19:15 train from Paris, but said the train "just stopped" about two hours into the journey, near Calais. |
"We were just sat there from 21:15 until they turned the train around at about 02:15," she said. | "We were just sat there from 21:15 until they turned the train around at about 02:15," she said. |
Her friend, Olivia Saltmarsh, added: "We were told there were migrants around the train and we had to wait until they were cleared. | Her friend, Olivia Saltmarsh, added: "We were told there were migrants around the train and we had to wait until they were cleared. |
"We were told the police were coming a few hours later, and then a few hours after that we were told a helicopter was coming to check. | "We were told the police were coming a few hours later, and then a few hours after that we were told a helicopter was coming to check. |
"After that we were told we were going back to Paris and then we ended up in Calais. There was no communication." | "After that we were told we were going back to Paris and then we ended up in Calais. There was no communication." |
She added: "We didn't get off it until about 04:30. All the electricity went off, so there was no lights, no air conditioning. It was so hot." | She added: "We didn't get off it until about 04:30. All the electricity went off, so there was no lights, no air conditioning. It was so hot." |
'Bolted in' | 'Bolted in' |
Nadine Hickey said the experience was "one of the worst" of her life, saying passengers had been "locked in a train, in the dark, with migrants knocking on the window". | Nadine Hickey said the experience was "one of the worst" of her life, saying passengers had been "locked in a train, in the dark, with migrants knocking on the window". |
She was with her two young children having visited Disneyland Paris. | She was with her two young children having visited Disneyland Paris. |
"We had migrants on top of the carriage and they had to come round and manually bolt us in," she said after arriving at St Pancras. | "We had migrants on top of the carriage and they had to come round and manually bolt us in," she said after arriving at St Pancras. |
"We were in there in the dark for over four hours with no communication," she added. | "We were in there in the dark for over four hours with no communication," she added. |
Francine Khanna said her journey from Paris had taken 16 hours and had been an "appalling" experience. | Francine Khanna said her journey from Paris had taken 16 hours and had been an "appalling" experience. |
She said passengers were eventually taken to Calais-Frethun station, where they had to wait for more than four hours. | She said passengers were eventually taken to Calais-Frethun station, where they had to wait for more than four hours. |
A Eurostar spokeswoman acknowledged it had been a frustrating time for passengers, and apologised for the inconvenience caused. | |
"Our staff have been on hand today and through the night to provide as much support and care as possible to arriving customers and to advise on compensation," she added. | |
The current crisis in Calais is part of a wider migrant surge into Europe from north Africa and the Middle East. | The current 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". | 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". |
Are you on a train that's been delayed? Did you witness any incidents around the Eurotunnel terminals? Have your travel plans been affected? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you on a train that's been delayed? Did you witness any incidents around the Eurotunnel terminals? Have your travel plans been affected? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |