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Thousands in Eurostar 'nightmare' Thousands in Eurostar 'nightmare'
(about 2 hours later)
Passengers trapped on board broken-down Eurostar trains for up to 16 hours have been talking about their ordeals.Passengers trapped on board broken-down Eurostar trains for up to 16 hours have been talking about their ordeals.
More than 2,000 people were trapped inside the Channel Tunnel for hours after five trains suffered electrical failure due to freezing conditions.More than 2,000 people were trapped inside the Channel Tunnel for hours after five trains suffered electrical failure due to freezing conditions.
Some trains were evacuated while other passengers were kept on board, many without food and water. One passenger said it was a "complete nightmare".Some trains were evacuated while other passengers were kept on board, many without food and water. One passenger said it was a "complete nightmare".
Eurostar has apologised and cancelled all its services for Saturday.Eurostar has apologised and cancelled all its services for Saturday.
Many passengers have had complicated and gruelling journeys, and some have still not been allowed to disembark.Many passengers have had complicated and gruelling journeys, and some have still not been allowed to disembark.
Some have been stuck on a train for up to seven hours in sidings in Folkestone.Some have been stuck on a train for up to seven hours in sidings in Folkestone.
First and foremost we are very, very sorry Richard BrownEurostar chief executive First and foremost we are very, very sorry Richard BrownEurostar chief executive class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8422369.stm">Angry travellers recall journeys
Lucy Morris was nearly at St Pancras at midday on Saturday. Her 2hr 20min journey from Paris has taken more than 16 hours.Lucy Morris was nearly at St Pancras at midday on Saturday. Her 2hr 20min journey from Paris has taken more than 16 hours.
She was stuck in the Channel Tunnel for about five hours and after her train was towed out, she was transferred on to another train, which was stuck in the sidings.She was stuck in the Channel Tunnel for about five hours and after her train was towed out, she was transferred on to another train, which was stuck in the sidings.
The 20-year-old student from London, who had been on a shopping trip, said: "There has been no proper organisation.The 20-year-old student from London, who had been on a shopping trip, said: "There has been no proper organisation.
"There is water but people are hungry. Staff are pleasant but have no idea. I'm exhausted and also angry at being treated so badly.""There is water but people are hungry. Staff are pleasant but have no idea. I'm exhausted and also angry at being treated so badly."
'Absolutely unprecedented'
Richard Brown, Eurostar chief executive, apologised to passengers who spent the night trapped in what he called "very unpleasant conditions" in the Channel Tunnel.Richard Brown, Eurostar chief executive, apologised to passengers who spent the night trapped in what he called "very unpleasant conditions" in the Channel Tunnel.
Eurostar chief says 'sorry'Eurostar chief says 'sorry'
"First and foremost we are very, very sorry that they have had such a disrupted journey overnight," he said."First and foremost we are very, very sorry that they have had such a disrupted journey overnight," he said.
"We have been getting people home as quickly as we can but they have had very bad journeys. Our main priority at the moment is to get them home, getting them taxis to wherever they live around the UK.""We have been getting people home as quickly as we can but they have had very bad journeys. Our main priority at the moment is to get them home, getting them taxis to wherever they live around the UK."
He said the five trains, which were coming from Brussels and Paris, failed because of the "very, very cold temperatures" outside and the "warm, humid" conditions inside the tunnel.He said the five trains, which were coming from Brussels and Paris, failed because of the "very, very cold temperatures" outside and the "warm, humid" conditions inside the tunnel.
The evacuation procedure we followed was one that we set down ourselves Eurostar passenger Lee Godfree Tunnel breakdown traps thousands Snow leads to further disruptionThe evacuation procedure we followed was one that we set down ourselves Eurostar passenger Lee Godfree Tunnel breakdown traps thousands Snow leads to further disruption
Passengers on two of the trains were taken out via service tunnels to car trains, while the passengers on the other three trains remained on board.Passengers on two of the trains were taken out via service tunnels to car trains, while the passengers on the other three trains remained on board.
One Eurostar train is still stuck in the tunnel but no passengers are on board.One Eurostar train is still stuck in the tunnel but no passengers are on board.
John Keefe from Eurotunnel, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, said the situation was "absolutely extraordinary and unprecedented".John Keefe from Eurotunnel, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, said the situation was "absolutely extraordinary and unprecedented".
"There's never actually been an evacuation of a Eurostar train in the 15 years that the tunnel has been opened and last night we evacuated two whole trains to get people off.""There's never actually been an evacuation of a Eurostar train in the 15 years that the tunnel has been opened and last night we evacuated two whole trains to get people off."
'Complete nightmare''Complete nightmare'
Lee Godfree, a passenger evacuated from one of the stranded trains, said he and his family had arrived in Folkestone at 0500 GMT, having left Disneyland Paris at 1837 GMT.Lee Godfree, a passenger evacuated from one of the stranded trains, said he and his family had arrived in Folkestone at 0500 GMT, having left Disneyland Paris at 1837 GMT.
He said their journey had been a "complete nightmare".He said their journey had been a "complete nightmare".
"We were without power. We ran out of water, we ran out of food and there was very, very poor communication from the staff," he told the BBC."We were without power. We ran out of water, we ran out of food and there was very, very poor communication from the staff," he told the BBC.
Some Eurostar passengers were transferred on to a car shuttle train (pic - Lee Godfree).Some Eurostar passengers were transferred on to a car shuttle train (pic - Lee Godfree).
"We lost air conditioning when we lost the power. We had to open the emergency doors ourselves."We lost air conditioning when we lost the power. We had to open the emergency doors ourselves.
"The evacuation procedure we followed was one that we set down ourselves.""The evacuation procedure we followed was one that we set down ourselves."
Mr Godfree, from Stowmarket in Suffolk, who was travelling with his wife and young son, was told there were 700 people on board their stranded train, where the "heat was unbearable".Mr Godfree, from Stowmarket in Suffolk, who was travelling with his wife and young son, was told there were 700 people on board their stranded train, where the "heat was unbearable".
He said there were pregnant women, people in wheelchairs and hundreds of parents with young children, and they got themselves on to the car train, where they sat on the "filthy floors".He said there were pregnant women, people in wheelchairs and hundreds of parents with young children, and they got themselves on to the car train, where they sat on the "filthy floors".
The shuttle took them to Calais before heading back to England and they then had to wait for a train to take them on to London.The shuttle took them to Calais before heading back to England and they then had to wait for a train to take them on to London.
One of the stranded trains was towed out of the tunnel and taken directly to St Pancras.One of the stranded trains was towed out of the tunnel and taken directly to St Pancras.
Passengers from a second were evacuated from the stricken train by Eurotunnel shuttle and later transferred to a Eurostar train bound for St Pancras.Passengers from a second were evacuated from the stricken train by Eurotunnel shuttle and later transferred to a Eurostar train bound for St Pancras.
People on the third train were also evacuated and then taken to the terminal in France.People on the third train were also evacuated and then taken to the terminal in France.
The fourth and fifth trains were coupled together and hauled by a diesel train to England.The fourth and fifth trains were coupled together and hauled by a diesel train to England.
The problems with the Eurostar services had a knock-on effect for car passengers hoping to use the tunnel.The problems with the Eurostar services had a knock-on effect for car passengers hoping to use the tunnel.
Eurotunnel assisted with the removal of the trains from the tunnel and at first the car service was suspended but it has since re-opened with "significant delays".Eurotunnel assisted with the removal of the trains from the tunnel and at first the car service was suspended but it has since re-opened with "significant delays".
James Brownell and his friends had a 12-hour wait at Folkestone. They were due to catch the 1800 shuttle on Friday night but only arrived in France at 0500 GMT.James Brownell and his friends had a 12-hour wait at Folkestone. They were due to catch the 1800 shuttle on Friday night but only arrived in France at 0500 GMT.
The 27-year-old from Essex said they were left in their car in "sub zero temperatures" but they luckily had duvets and blankets to keep them warm.The 27-year-old from Essex said they were left in their car in "sub zero temperatures" but they luckily had duvets and blankets to keep them warm.
He said they were offered no food or water, and very little information.
"It was so frustrating, we did not have a clue what was going on," he said."It was so frustrating, we did not have a clue what was going on," he said.
"There were babies in the car behind us. It has been a terrible 12 hours."
Hazardous roadsHazardous roads
To add to passengers' difficulties, there is congestion around Folkestone and Dover due to the Channel Tunnel problems and the earlier closure of the port of Calais due to severe weather.To add to passengers' difficulties, there is congestion around Folkestone and Dover due to the Channel Tunnel problems and the earlier closure of the port of Calais due to severe weather.
Kent Police said bad weather in the county was also making driving hazardous.Kent Police said bad weather in the county was also making driving hazardous.
Ch Supt Matthew Nix said: "Many people have spent a long time in their cars and other vehicles."Ch Supt Matthew Nix said: "Many people have spent a long time in their cars and other vehicles."
It will take "considerable time" to clear the backlog of vehicles and people should only make essential journeys, he added.It will take "considerable time" to clear the backlog of vehicles and people should only make essential journeys, he added.
The train breakdowns coincided with strike action by Eurostar drivers in a 48-hour dispute over pay which began on Friday.
Around 70 members of the drivers' union Aslef are taking part in the industrial action.
Meanwhile, more snow and freezing temperatures are expected for parts of Scotland and south-east and eastern England.Meanwhile, more snow and freezing temperatures are expected for parts of Scotland and south-east and eastern England.
Heavy snowfall caused travel chaos, forced schools to close and cut off power supplies in parts of the UK on Friday.Heavy snowfall caused travel chaos, forced schools to close and cut off power supplies in parts of the UK on Friday.
Have you been affected by the Eurostar problems in the Channel Tunnel? Tell us your experiences and send us your comments.Have you been affected by the Eurostar problems in the Channel Tunnel? Tell us your experiences and send us your comments.
You can send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.You can send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.
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