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Eurostar resumes train services | Eurostar resumes train services |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Eurostar trains have been running through the Channel Tunnel again, 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, with no reported problems, and passenger backlogs have been clearing. | The company said all trains setting off on Tuesday had arrived as expected, with no reported problems, and passenger backlogs have been clearing. |
Condensation in electrical systems had caused breakdowns on its trains, which led to thousands of passengers being stuck in the tunnel on Friday night. | |
An independent review is now being carried out into what happened. | |
Richard Brown, chief executive of Eurostar, on the current service | Richard Brown, chief executive of Eurostar, on the current service |
It will be conducted by Christopher Garnett, the former chief executive of train company GNER. | |
The review was commissioned by Eurostar and will report by the end of January. | 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 team 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. | 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". | Others unable to get on their trains at all said it had been "an appalling few days". |
It's really good to be home. We've been in Brussels for three extra days so we're really relieved Eurostar passenger Jan Light at end of Eurostar's tunnel Your compensation rights Who is to blame for Eurostar chaos? Chaos leads to marathon trip Weather brings misery to Europe | It's really good to be home. We've been in Brussels for three extra days so we're really relieved Eurostar passenger Jan Light at end of Eurostar's tunnel Your compensation rights Who is to blame for Eurostar chaos? Chaos leads to marathon trip Weather brings misery to Europe |
On Tuesday, the first train left Paris at 0810 local time (0710 GMT), and the first departure from St Pancras, in London, was at 0740 GMT. | |
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. | 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. |
Initially, Eurostar prevented customers with on-the-day tickets from boarding while it cleared its backlog, but they were later allowed on board. | Initially, Eurostar prevented customers with on-the-day tickets from boarding while it cleared its backlog, but they were later allowed on board. |
Eurostar said it hoped to have carried 26,000 passengers in total by the end of Tuesday. | |
Passengers with tickets for travel between 19 and 24 December have been told they can go to a terminal on Wednesday or Thursday and Eurostar "will do its best to allocate a seat on the next available train". | |
But chief executive Richard Brown said services would not return to normal until "after Christmas". | |
Some passengers were relieved to get on a train, but others were still angry with the company. | Some passengers were relieved to get on a train, but others were still angry with the company. |
Stephanie Budd, 34, from Wallington, Surrey, finally arrived at St Pancras after taking her four children to Disneyland Paris, and ending up spending three nights in Brussels. | |
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." |
Out of service | 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. |
Ian Nunn, Eurostar: "We are getting people through and into trains" | 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. |
Day trip bookings for travel on Tuesday and Wednesday have been cancelled. | |
Eurotunnel said anyone without a reservation or with a day trip ticket should contact it before setting off. | |
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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The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |