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Eurostar suspends services again Eurostar suspends services again
(10 minutes later)
Eurostar has said there will be no services for a third day on Monday while further tests are carried out on its fleet of trains.Eurostar has said there will be no services for a third day on Monday while further tests are carried out on its fleet of trains.
But commercial director Nick Mercer said engineers have now pinpointed the cause of electrical problems and he hoped services would resume shortly.But commercial director Nick Mercer said engineers have now pinpointed the cause of electrical problems and he hoped services would resume shortly.
Thousands of passengers were trapped on five trains in the Channel Tunnel on Friday and Saturday in wintry weather.Thousands of passengers were trapped on five trains in the Channel Tunnel on Friday and Saturday in wintry weather.
The company is transporting 500 of its "most vulnerable" passengers to France.The company is transporting 500 of its "most vulnerable" passengers to France.
Train improvementsTrain improvements
Mr Mercer said severe snowy conditions in northern France had caused snow to be ingested into trains in a way never seen before.Mr Mercer said severe snowy conditions in northern France had caused snow to be ingested into trains in a way never seen before.
He said tests would be carried out on Monday with new modifications and it was hoped there would be an announcement later in the day that services would be able to resume.He said tests would be carried out on Monday with new modifications and it was hoped there would be an announcement later in the day that services would be able to resume.
He said screens and shields designed to prevent snow getting into electrics had failed and needed to be improved.He said screens and shields designed to prevent snow getting into electrics had failed and needed to be improved.
There was a severely disrupted service on Saturday, with 31,000 ticket holders forced to change their travel plans.There was a severely disrupted service on Saturday, with 31,000 ticket holders forced to change their travel plans.
All services were cancelled on Sunday and a further 27,000 people were left stranded.All services were cancelled on Sunday and a further 27,000 people were left stranded.
On Sunday evening, an emergency plan was introduced to put "vulnerable" stranded passengers on Javelin trains to Dover to catch ferries and then coaches on to Paris and Brussels.On Sunday evening, an emergency plan was introduced to put "vulnerable" stranded passengers on Javelin trains to Dover to catch ferries and then coaches on to Paris and Brussels.
The company ran test trains without passengers on Sunday after five trains broke down in the tunnel on Friday when condensation affected electrical systems.The company ran test trains without passengers on Sunday after five trains broke down in the tunnel on Friday when condensation affected electrical systems.
Another train, which had been laid on to try to clear the backlog, suffered the same fate on Saturday night.Another train, which had been laid on to try to clear the backlog, suffered the same fate on Saturday night.
Those stranded complained of a lack of food and drink, power supplies and information, and there were further problems when some rescue trains themselves broke down.Those stranded complained of a lack of food and drink, power supplies and information, and there were further problems when some rescue trains themselves broke down.
'Shrugged shoulders''Shrugged shoulders'
A Eurostar spokeswoman said: "We have managed to get 500 passengers on to a Javelin high-speed train to Dover Priory and from there we bussed them on to a ferry to take them on to Paris and Brussels.A Eurostar spokeswoman said: "We have managed to get 500 passengers on to a Javelin high-speed train to Dover Priory and from there we bussed them on to a ferry to take them on to Paris and Brussels.
EUROSTAR ADVICE If your journey is not essential, do not travelA full refund will be offered to those whose journeys have been affectedPassengers whose journeys were severely disrupted on Friday or Saturday will also be given £150 compensation and a free return ticketHotels will be offered for those who had wanted to travel on SundayAll updates will be posted on the Eurostar website and given out to news outlets Are you a Eurostar passenger?EUROSTAR ADVICE If your journey is not essential, do not travelA full refund will be offered to those whose journeys have been affectedPassengers whose journeys were severely disrupted on Friday or Saturday will also be given £150 compensation and a free return ticketHotels will be offered for those who had wanted to travel on SundayAll updates will be posted on the Eurostar website and given out to news outlets Are you a Eurostar passenger?
"They were the most vulnerable people, who needed to get back home to France and Belgium.""They were the most vulnerable people, who needed to get back home to France and Belgium."
No arrangements were in place for Britons stuck in France, she added.No arrangements were in place for Britons stuck in France, she added.
Lauren Copping, from Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, said her three-year-old son Joshua was stranded in France after going to Disneyland Paris with his father.Lauren Copping, from Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, said her three-year-old son Joshua was stranded in France after going to Disneyland Paris with his father.
She told BBC News: "Eurostar staff have been not very helpful at all.She told BBC News: "Eurostar staff have been not very helpful at all.
"They went down to the check-in desk and they just shrugged their shoulders at them."They went down to the check-in desk and they just shrugged their shoulders at them.
"I spoke to my son this morning. He is crying and wants to come home and we just can't get him home.""I spoke to my son this morning. He is crying and wants to come home and we just can't get him home."
Ferry operator P&O is transporting a fleet of coaches across the Channel and on to Paris and Brussels to help people stranded by the cancellation of Eurostar services.Ferry operator P&O is transporting a fleet of coaches across the Channel and on to Paris and Brussels to help people stranded by the cancellation of Eurostar services.
Spokesman Chris Laming said: "To avoid them having to spend a night at terminals in either Calais or Dover, we're putting on these coaches to enable them to get across the Channel."Spokesman Chris Laming said: "To avoid them having to spend a night at terminals in either Calais or Dover, we're putting on these coaches to enable them to get across the Channel."
Airport disruptionAirport disruption
Meanwhile, severe weather warnings remain in place in northern parts of the UK and freezing conditions have continued to disrupt travel.Meanwhile, severe weather warnings remain in place in northern parts of the UK and freezing conditions have continued to disrupt travel.
Snow fell in Northern Ireland, western Scotland and north-western parts of England, and temperatures are expected to remain below freezing.Snow fell in Northern Ireland, western Scotland and north-western parts of England, and temperatures are expected to remain below freezing.
Ambulance services have urged people to take extra care walking and driving and to wrap up warm.Ambulance services have urged people to take extra care walking and driving and to wrap up warm.
Clearly, if you're on a train stranded in a tunnel, it is a distressing experience Richard BrownEurostar chief executiveClearly, if you're on a train stranded in a tunnel, it is a distressing experience Richard BrownEurostar chief executive
At Bristol International Airport hundreds of people were stranded when Easyjet scrapped five flights.At Bristol International Airport hundreds of people were stranded when Easyjet scrapped five flights.
Flights were grounded for 90 minutes at Manchester Airport on Sunday morning as staff moved snow and de-iced a runway.Flights were grounded for 90 minutes at Manchester Airport on Sunday morning as staff moved snow and de-iced a runway.
There have been delays at Belfast International Airport after it closed but later reopened, and Inverness Airport has also been disrupted.There have been delays at Belfast International Airport after it closed but later reopened, and Inverness Airport has also been disrupted.
Eurostar passenger Claire McKinney Williams, who is 35 weeks pregnant and unable to fly, was stranded at a hotel in Brussels.Eurostar passenger Claire McKinney Williams, who is 35 weeks pregnant and unable to fly, was stranded at a hotel in Brussels.
She told the BBC: "It's been very disruptive. We haven't had any help, we've been over to Eurostar in the station, and they've not been very helpful, they haven't given us any help on alternative ways home or anything."She told the BBC: "It's been very disruptive. We haven't had any help, we've been over to Eurostar in the station, and they've not been very helpful, they haven't given us any help on alternative ways home or anything."
'Out of touch''Out of touch'
Eurostar chief executive Richard Brown asked people not to travel unless it was essential.Eurostar chief executive Richard Brown asked people not to travel unless it was essential.
He said: "When we resume service it's going to be very busy, we're not going to be able to carry everyone who's booked yesterday, today and during this week."He said: "When we resume service it's going to be very busy, we're not going to be able to carry everyone who's booked yesterday, today and during this week."
Passengers who have suffered delays will be offered a full refund, £150 compensation and a free return ticket.Passengers who have suffered delays will be offered a full refund, £150 compensation and a free return ticket.
The compensation would be offered until the backlog of passengers was cleared and the service was back to normal.The compensation would be offered until the backlog of passengers was cleared and the service was back to normal.
Nirj Deva, Conservative MEP for the South East of England, said he wanted the Eurostar chief executive to step down.Nirj Deva, Conservative MEP for the South East of England, said he wanted the Eurostar chief executive to step down.
The company had not been adequately prepared for the situation, and Mr Brown should therefore "do the decent thing" and resign, he said.The company had not been adequately prepared for the situation, and Mr Brown should therefore "do the decent thing" and resign, he said.
Mr Brown told BBC Breakfast he was "very, very sorry" for the inconvenience and described events as "unprecedented".Mr Brown told BBC Breakfast he was "very, very sorry" for the inconvenience and described events as "unprecedented".
He admitted it had taken a "very long time" to evacuate people from the trains.He admitted it had taken a "very long time" to evacuate people from the trains.
"Clearly, if you're on a train stranded in a tunnel, it is a distressing experience," he said."Clearly, if you're on a train stranded in a tunnel, it is a distressing experience," he said.
He conceded it took too long to get trains out to people and said while trains had spare water, it ran out.He conceded it took too long to get trains out to people and said while trains had spare water, it ran out.
Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said the disruption was a "catastrophe" for people trapped trying to get home for Christmas.Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said the disruption was a "catastrophe" for people trapped trying to get home for Christmas.
She said: "After a reprieve from BA strikes, it is a huge concern to see travellers hit so hard by this crisis."She said: "After a reprieve from BA strikes, it is a huge concern to see travellers hit so hard by this crisis."
On Sunday, all ferry services from Dover to Dunkirk, Boulogne and Calais were running, and traffic queues had eased.On Sunday, all ferry services from Dover to Dunkirk, Boulogne and Calais were running, and traffic queues had eased.
The Port of Dover said traffic was running freely on the A2 and A20 into Dover, and freight traffic stuck on the M20 was being called forward in batches to be shipped across the Channel.The Port of Dover said traffic was running freely on the A2 and A20 into Dover, and freight traffic stuck on the M20 was being called forward in batches to be shipped across the Channel.
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