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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 in "horrendous conditions" as migrants climbed on to 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. | Eurostar apologised, and said it was advising customers on compensation. |
Services are now expected to run normally, it said. | Services are now expected to run normally, it said. |
Meanwhile Prime Minister David Cameron said "taking more and more refugees" was not the answer to the EU's current migration crisis. | Meanwhile Prime Minister David Cameron said "taking more and more refugees" was not the answer to the EU's current migration crisis. |
The EU should focus on bringing peace, stability and stronger economies to the countries that people were leaving, he said. | The EU should focus on bringing peace, stability and stronger economies to the countries that people were leaving, he said. |
Eurostar passengers described a "horrendous" and "appalling" experience trapped on a train for up to 14 hours with migrants "knocking on the windows". | |
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. |
'Bolted in' | 'Bolted in' |
Nadine Hickey, who was with her two young children after a visit to Disneyland Paris, said the experience was "one of the worst" of her life. | |
"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. |
Bridget Roussel, 52, from Greenwich, south-east London, said the conditions on board were "chaos". | |
"The lights went off and the air conditioning went off, it was so hot. The toilet by that time was so disgusting, it made me feel sick," she said. | |
Passengers also complained they were given very little information, and no food, then packed into a "freezing" station and given thermal foil blankets after the carriages were finally evacuated in Calais. | |
Michael Richardson, 45, from north London, who was travelling with his wife and two-year-old son said: "We were told the French army helicopter was searching using thermal imaging cameras. | |
"They were saying someone had smashed one of the windows." | |
'Steps on the roof' | |
Linda Roberts, 67, from Southfields, south London, said she saw a group of about six young men walking on the tracks. | |
"They were on the train, you could hear steps on the roof," she added. | |
A Eurostar spokeswoman acknowledged it had been a frustrating time for passengers, and apologised for the inconvenience caused. | 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. | "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. |
Hundreds of migrants have been protesting for a second day at Budapest's Keleti train station over Hungary's decision to prevent them from travelling on towards Germany and other EU countries. | Hundreds of migrants have been protesting for a second day at Budapest's Keleti train station over Hungary's decision to prevent them from travelling on towards Germany and other EU countries. |
Meanwhile, more than 4,000 migrants arrived in mainland Greece from the island of Lesbos overnight. | Meanwhile, more than 4,000 migrants arrived in mainland Greece from the island of Lesbos overnight. |
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 |