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| Channel Tunnel disruption goes on | Channel Tunnel disruption goes on |
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| Thousands of passengers hoping to travel through the Channel Tunnel face further disruption after a fire on a freight train. | Thousands of passengers hoping to travel through the Channel Tunnel face further disruption after a fire on a freight train. |
| The tunnel is closed after the fire broke out about seven miles from Calais on Thursday afternoon. Firefighters say the 16-hour blaze has now been put out. | The tunnel is closed after the fire broke out about seven miles from Calais on Thursday afternoon. Firefighters say the 16-hour blaze has now been put out. |
| Thirty-two people on board the freight train were led to safety, and 14 passengers suffered minor injuries. | Thirty-two people on board the freight train were led to safety, and 14 passengers suffered minor injuries. |
| Eurostar said it "did not expect" to operate any services on Friday. | Eurostar said it "did not expect" to operate any services on Friday. |
| Passengers were still arriving at St Pancras International in London on Friday hoping services to the Continent would resume. | Passengers were still arriving at St Pancras International in London on Friday hoping services to the Continent would resume. |
| WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CHANNEL TUNNEL - 11 SEPTEMBER 2008 Fire started on lorry (1) just before 1500 BST on train from Folkestone to Calais. Lorry drivers heard series of explosions. They broke windows (2) to get out of amenity car. Altogether 32 people, including seven Britons, were evacuated into service tunnel (3). A spokeswoman said about 30,000 passengers were due to travel on 50 Eurostar services on Friday and they would be offered a full refund or exchange. | |
| "We checked the website around 9pm," said finance manager Kirsty McIntyre, who had planned to spend the weekend in the Champagne region. | "We checked the website around 9pm," said finance manager Kirsty McIntyre, who had planned to spend the weekend in the Champagne region. |
| "It just said delays are expected but it didn't say anything about cancelled services, so we came today and it's not happening. We are going to see if we can get a bus to Dover and a ferry to Calais." | "It just said delays are expected but it didn't say anything about cancelled services, so we came today and it's not happening. We are going to see if we can get a bus to Dover and a ferry to Calais." |
| Others who had planned to take the Eurostar on Thursday and were unable to get hotel accommodation were forced to sleep in the station. | Others who had planned to take the Eurostar on Thursday and were unable to get hotel accommodation were forced to sleep in the station. |
| See layout of Channel Tunnel | |
| Groom among stranded passengersGuide to Channel TunnelIn pictures: Channel Tunnel fire | Groom among stranded passengersGuide to Channel TunnelIn pictures: Channel Tunnel fire |
| The tunnel carries Eurostar express trains between London, Paris and Brussels, as well as freight and passenger shuttles between Folkestone and Calais. | The tunnel carries Eurostar express trains between London, Paris and Brussels, as well as freight and passenger shuttles between Folkestone and Calais. |
| The source of the blaze has not yet been identified but French officials say a lorry carrying chemicals, which is understood to have overturned on the freight train, was close to the seat of the fire. | The source of the blaze has not yet been identified but French officials say a lorry carrying chemicals, which is understood to have overturned on the freight train, was close to the seat of the fire. |
| It was carrying the chemical phenol, a toxic product used by the pharmaceutical industry. | It was carrying the chemical phenol, a toxic product used by the pharmaceutical industry. |
| Eurotunnel chairman Jacque Gounon told French radio some traffic could resume on Friday. | Eurotunnel chairman Jacque Gounon told French radio some traffic could resume on Friday. |
| "I think, without making any promise, that the service could get back to half capacity during the day," he said. | "I think, without making any promise, that the service could get back to half capacity during the day," he said. |
| He added that the north tunnel, where the fire took place, would be closed for several weeks. | He added that the north tunnel, where the fire took place, would be closed for several weeks. |
| The BBC's Europe editor, Mark Mardell, said Mr Gounon would not speculate on the cause of the fire, saying only that nothing had been ruled out or in. | The BBC's Europe editor, Mark Mardell, said Mr Gounon would not speculate on the cause of the fire, saying only that nothing had been ruled out or in. |
| He added an investigation could only begin once the affected area had cooled down enough to enable the removal of the train. | He added an investigation could only begin once the affected area had cooled down enough to enable the removal of the train. |
| France's transport minister Dominique Bussereau told French radio station Europe-1 the cause appeared to be "something accidental". | France's transport minister Dominique Bussereau told French radio station Europe-1 the cause appeared to be "something accidental". |
| Exhausting conditions | Exhausting conditions |
| The blaze broke out yesterday just before 1500 BST on a train carrying lorries from Folkestone to Calais. | The blaze broke out yesterday just before 1500 BST on a train carrying lorries from Folkestone to Calais. |
| Thirty-two people, including seven Britons, were evacuated to the service tunnel and a train ferried them to France. More than 300 French and British firefighters tackled the blaze overnight and some 27 vehicles were affected. | Thirty-two people, including seven Britons, were evacuated to the service tunnel and a train ferried them to France. More than 300 French and British firefighters tackled the blaze overnight and some 27 vehicles were affected. |
| Chief Fire Officer Bill Feeley, of Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said a large crew had been needed because of the difficult and tiring conditions and would remain in place until the emergency services were satisfied the fire was completely extinguished. | Chief Fire Officer Bill Feeley, of Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said a large crew had been needed because of the difficult and tiring conditions and would remain in place until the emergency services were satisfied the fire was completely extinguished. |
| A French police spokesman said the main seat of the fire was extinguished at 0700 BST after burning for more than 16 hours. | A French police spokesman said the main seat of the fire was extinguished at 0700 BST after burning for more than 16 hours. |
| Travellers on the disruption they have faced | Travellers on the disruption they have faced |
| Firefighters then spent two hours smothering minor fires nearby, he said. | Firefighters then spent two hours smothering minor fires nearby, he said. |
| Kent Fire and Rescue Service has now said they were "scaling down" their efforts. Two fire engines were still at the scene with 12 firefighters and specialist crews, a spokeswoman said. | Kent Fire and Rescue Service has now said they were "scaling down" their efforts. Two fire engines were still at the scene with 12 firefighters and specialist crews, a spokeswoman said. |
| "The bi-national status of the operation was lifted at midday so it is now a French incident," she said. | "The bi-national status of the operation was lifted at midday so it is now a French incident," she said. |
| "Eurotunnel has retaken control of the infrastructure and its technicians have started to carry out a physical inspection so operations can resume in the south tunnel." | "Eurotunnel has retaken control of the infrastructure and its technicians have started to carry out a physical inspection so operations can resume in the south tunnel." |
| John Keefe, a Eurotunnel spokesman, said much of the tunnel was unaffected by the blaze. | John Keefe, a Eurotunnel spokesman, said much of the tunnel was unaffected by the blaze. |
| "Two thirds of the tunnel are still open," he said. "So we believe we should be able to get services back into operation very quickly." | "Two thirds of the tunnel are still open," he said. "So we believe we should be able to get services back into operation very quickly." |
| Transport chaos | Transport chaos |
| The closure has caused huge tailbacks on roads near the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone as dozens of lorries have been forced to park on the M20 and other surrounding roads. | The closure has caused huge tailbacks on roads near the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone as dozens of lorries have been forced to park on the M20 and other surrounding roads. |
| Kent Police say sections of the motorway - between junctions eight and nine - are still being used to queue lorries as part of Operation Stack and are advising motorists to avoid the area. | Kent Police say sections of the motorway - between junctions eight and nine - are still being used to queue lorries as part of Operation Stack and are advising motorists to avoid the area. |
| Sections of the M20 remain closed | Sections of the M20 remain closed |
| An estimated 2,000 lorries are delayed by between six to eight hours. | |
| Superintendent Peter Wedlake said: "We anticipate there will be some congestion. | Superintendent Peter Wedlake said: "We anticipate there will be some congestion. |
| "People heading coastbound from Maidstone down towards Folkestone and Dover won't be able to use the M20." | "People heading coastbound from Maidstone down towards Folkestone and Dover won't be able to use the M20." |
| Eurolines, which is part of National Express, says it has increased the number of coaches on its services to Paris and Brussels to help passengers stranded on both sides of the Channel Tunnel. | Eurolines, which is part of National Express, says it has increased the number of coaches on its services to Paris and Brussels to help passengers stranded on both sides of the Channel Tunnel. |
| The Channel Tunnel has suffered several incidents since it opened to traffic in 1994 although only one - a fire in 1996 - caused serious injuries. | The Channel Tunnel has suffered several incidents since it opened to traffic in 1994 although only one - a fire in 1996 - caused serious injuries. |
| In August 2006, 34 people had to be led to safety after a fire broke out on a lorry being carried on a freight train. | In August 2006, 34 people had to be led to safety after a fire broke out on a lorry being carried on a freight train. |
| The fire caused £200m worth of damage and burned for more than five hours, wrecking the concrete lining and facilities over about half a mile of tunnel. | The fire caused £200m worth of damage and burned for more than five hours, wrecking the concrete lining and facilities over about half a mile of tunnel. |
| Security exercises are staged in the Channel Tunnel by police, fire and ambulance services from both England and France to ensure preparedness for such incidents. | Security exercises are staged in the Channel Tunnel by police, fire and ambulance services from both England and France to ensure preparedness for such incidents. |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| Have you been affected by this incident? Were you due to travel through the Channel Tunnel today? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: | Have you been affected by this incident? Were you due to travel through the Channel Tunnel today? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: |
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