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Eurotunnel services hit by delays Eurotunnel shuttle delays eased
(1 day later)
Eurotunnel passengers have faced delays of up to four hours, following technical problems with trains. Eurotunnel's vehicle shuttle service appears to be running normally after technical problems caused delays.
About 400 vehicles were affected on Tuesday evening, with some passengers given ferry tickets as an alternative by the operator. About 400 vehicles were affected on Tuesday evening, with some passengers given ferry tickets as an alternative.
The hitch comes less than two weeks after Eurostar services were suspended for three days after trains broke down in the Channel tunnel. On Wednesday an automated message said only passengers with advance bookings would be able to travel, although no- one was available to confirm details.
Eurotunnel said the problems were being examined by engineers. The hitch came after both Eurostar and then Eurotunnel suffered major problems and delays earlier this month.
One passenger said there was "chaos" earlier on Tuesday evening, with traffic queuing from the terminal at Folkestone back to the M20 motorway. Before Christmas Eurostar services were suspended for three days after trains broke down in the Channel Tunnel because of bad weather, and the backlog of passengers unable to travel by Eurostar increased pressure on Eurotunnel services.
Following the latest problems Eurotunnel's customer phone line said there was currently a 30-minute wait at the terminal in Folkestone, and no queues at check-in.
Owing to "extremely high demand" no one would be able to travel at times other than the slot they had booked, it said.
'Chaos'
On Tuesday evening one passenger said there was "chaos", with traffic queuing from the terminal back to the M20 motorway.
People without reservations were being turned away, she said.People without reservations were being turned away, she said.
Her train had been due to leave at 2000 GMT but was delayed until midnight.Her train had been due to leave at 2000 GMT but was delayed until midnight.
Eurotunnel said there had been some technical problems with trains since early Tuesday evening, causing delays which it said were about 90 minutes to two hours.Eurotunnel said there had been some technical problems with trains since early Tuesday evening, causing delays which it said were about 90 minutes to two hours.
It said it offered ferry tickets to passengers as an alternative whenever there were delays of 60 minutes or more.It said it offered ferry tickets to passengers as an alternative whenever there were delays of 60 minutes or more.
A spokesman said: "The technical problems are not related to the weather and are being looked at by engineers who hope to resolve things as soon as possible."A spokesman said: "The technical problems are not related to the weather and are being looked at by engineers who hope to resolve things as soon as possible."
There were no problems reported from the French end, and Eurostar said its services were running normally. There were no problems reported from the French end.
Last week, the Eurotunnel shuttle service was hit by delays after a backlog of passengers built up, partly due to three days of problems on the Eurostar caused by snow in northern France.