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Eurostar resumes train services | Eurostar resumes train services |
(30 minutes later) | |
Eurostar has resumed operation of high-speed trains through the Channel Tunnel after three days with no service. | Eurostar has resumed operation of high-speed trains through the Channel Tunnel after three days with no service. |
A train left Paris at 0810 local time (0710 GMT), and the first departure from London was at 0740 GMT. | |
Eurostar said two-thirds of services would run on Tuesday, but tickets would be accepted only from people who should have travelled on Saturday and Sunday. | Eurostar said two-thirds of services would run on Tuesday, but tickets would be accepted only from people who should have travelled on Saturday and Sunday. |
The company blamed condensation on electrical systems for a series of breakdowns on its trains. | The company blamed condensation on electrical systems for a series of breakdowns on its trains. |
'Big relief' | 'Big relief' |
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. | 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. |
"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." | "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." |
Eurostar said it had space for 26,000 passengers to travel on Tuesday, although the backlog was an estimated 40,000 people. | |
Those Eurostar passengers with tickets booked for Monday and Tuesday should be able to travel on Wednesday. | Those Eurostar passengers with tickets booked for Monday and Tuesday should be able to travel on Wednesday. |
The final backlog of passengers is due to be cleared the following day. | The final backlog of passengers is due to be cleared the following day. |
Eurostar commercial director Nick Mercer said the firm was operating a special timetable which was effectively a special shuttle service. | Eurostar commercial director Nick Mercer said the firm was operating a special timetable which was effectively a special shuttle service. |
"We're asking customers who originally booked to travel to Paris or Brussels on Saturday or Sunday to come to St Pancras to travel with us," he said. | "We're asking customers who originally booked to travel to Paris or Brussels on Saturday or Sunday to come to St Pancras to travel with us," he said. |
Train breakdowns | |
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. | |
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. | |
The company tested modifications to trains on Monday, and said it was confident there would be no problems. | |
Eurotunnel, whose trains carry cars and lorries through the tunnel, said it was managing to clear the backlog of vehicles waiting to use its service. | |
Anyone without a reservation or with a day trip ticket was being advised not to show up, as the priority would be to clear those people who were meant to travel over the weekend. | Anyone without a reservation or with a day trip ticket was being advised not to show up, as the priority would be to clear those people who were meant to travel over the weekend. |
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 |