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Eurostar resumes train services Eurostar resumes train services
(about 4 hours later)
Eurostar has resumed operation of high-speed trains through the Channel Tunnel after three days with no service. Eurostar trains have been running through the Channel Tunnel again, after three days with no service.
The company said all trains setting off on Tuesday had arrived as expected, and there were no reports of problems. The company said all trains setting off on Tuesday had arrived as expected, with no reported problems, and passenger backlogs have been clearing.
BBC correspondents reported passenger backlogs in both France and the UK were clearing, and those with on-the-day tickets are being allowed to travel. Condensation on electrical systems had caused breakdowns on its trains, which led to thousands of passengers being stuck in the Tunnel on Friday night.
The company blamed condensation on electrical systems for a series of breakdowns on its trains. Services were cancelled at the weekend and Monday while the firm investigated.
Meanwhile, Eurotunnel has also started to clear the backlog on its car shuttle service through the tunnel, having closed its services to new passengers on Monday. Richard Brown, chief executive of Eurostar, on the current service
Eurostar finance director Ian Nunn, speaking from London's St Pancras station, said: "We do have trains moving now and we are getting people on to trains, so that's a big relief for us but most importantly for them. Christopher Garnett, the former chief executive of train company GNER, has started an independent review of what happened.
"We're terribly sorry for the discomfort we've put them through over the last few days and it's great to see that we're being able to make some inroads into the backlog and get people home." The review was commissioned by Eurostar and will report by the end of January.
An e-mail address has been set up for passengers to contact the inquiry, and Mr Garnett said he would expect to interview some of them face-to-face.
After their ordeal, some passengers stuck in the tunnel complained that they had been left in the dark and cold without food, water or sufficient information.
Others unable to get on their trains at all said it had been "an appalling few days".
'So angry''So angry'
Eurostar said it had space for 26,000 passengers to travel on Tuesday. It's really good to be home. We've been in Brussels for three extra days so we're really relieved Eurostar passenger Jan class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8426867.stm">Light at end of Eurostar's tunnel class="" href="/2/hi/business/8424519.stm">Your compensation rights class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8425145.stm">Who is to blame for Eurostar chaos? class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/wales/842042.stm">Chaos leads to marathon trip class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8425805.stm">Weather brings misery to Europe
The BBC's Ben Georghegan at the Eurostar terminal in St Pancras said the passengers with on-the-day tickets - as well as passengers with pre-booked tickets - were being allowed to board. On Tuesday, the first train left Paris at 0810 local time (0710 GMT), and the first departure from St Pancras was at 0740 GMT.
Eurostar had prevented customers with on-the-day tickets from boarding while it cleared its backlog. By late morning, four Eurostar trains had departed from St Pancras, three from Paris and two from Brussels. Each had a capacity of 750 passengers.
Ian Nunn, Eurostar: "We are getting people through and into trains" Initially, Eurostar prevented customers with on-the-day tickets from boarding while it cleared its backlog, but they were later allowed on board.
The first train left Paris at 0810 local time (0710 GMT), and the first departure from St Pancras was at 0740 GMT. Eurostar said it hoped to carry 26,000 passengers in total on Tuesday.
By late morning on Tuesday, four Eurostar trains had departed from St Pancras, three from Paris and two from Brussels. Each had a capacity of 750 passengers. Some passengers were relieved to get on a train, but others were still angry with the company.
But some passengers were still angry with Eurostar after delays that began after trains broke down in the Channel Tunnel. Stephanie Budd, 34, from Wallington in Surrey, finally arrived at St Pancras after taking her four children to Disneyland Paris, and ending up spending three nights in Brussels.
Stephanie Budd, 34, from Wallington in Surrey, finally arrived at St Pancras after taking her four children to Disneyland Paris.
She said: "The lack of information has been awful. Since Friday we have not known when we would be able to get home.She said: "The lack of information has been awful. Since Friday we have not known when we would be able to get home.
"It just was not explained that this would take so long. I'm so angry.""It just was not explained that this would take so long. I'm so angry."
Train breakdowns Out of service
The problems began on Friday, when five Eurostar trains broke down in the tunnel after condensation affected electrical systems.The problems began on Friday, when five Eurostar trains broke down in the tunnel after condensation affected electrical systems.
Another train, which had been laid on to try to clear the backlog, suffered the same fate as it left the tunnel in Kent on Saturday night.Another train, which had been laid on to try to clear the backlog, suffered the same fate as it left the tunnel in Kent on Saturday night.
class="" href="/2/hi/business/8424519.stm">Your compensation rights class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8425145.stm">Who is to blame for Eurostar chaos? class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/wales/842042.stm">Chaos leads to marathon trip class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8425805.stm">Weather brings misery to Europe Ian Nunn, Eurostar: "We are getting people through and into trains"
The company said snow shields used to protect the trains' electrics had worked for the past 15 years, but a recent cold snap in France had been "unprecedented".The company said snow shields used to protect the trains' electrics had worked for the past 15 years, but a recent cold snap in France had been "unprecedented".
Eurostar trains were taken out of service while it tried to rectify the problem, causing a massive backlog of stranded passengers on both sides of the Channel.Eurostar trains were taken out of service while it tried to rectify the problem, causing a massive backlog of stranded passengers on both sides of the Channel.
The company tested modifications to trains on Monday, and said it was confident there would be no problems.The company tested modifications to trains on Monday, and said it was confident there would be no problems.
The problems with Eurostar had a knock-on effect for Eurotunnel train services carrying cars and lorries through the tunnel.The problems with Eurostar had a knock-on effect for Eurotunnel train services carrying cars and lorries through the tunnel.
It closed its car shuttle service to new passengers on Monday after saying its terminal in Folkestone, Kent, had reached "saturation" point.It closed its car shuttle service to new passengers on Monday after saying its terminal in Folkestone, Kent, had reached "saturation" point.
A backlog of 7,000 vehicles built up but the process of starting to clear those started on Tuesday.A backlog of 7,000 vehicles built up but the process of starting to clear those started on Tuesday.
Eurotunnel said anyone without a reservation or with a day trip ticket should not show up, as the priority was those who had been due to travel over the weekend. Eurotunnel said anyone without a reservation or with a day trip ticket should contact it before setting off, however.
Are you travelling by Eurostar today? Or do you have relatives who are hoping to travel? Send us your stories, pictures and video.Are you travelling by Eurostar today? Or do you have relatives who are hoping to travel? Send us your stories, pictures and video.
Send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or if you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or if you have a large file you can upload here.
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