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Eurostar trains halted by lightning strike in Kent Eurostar trains halted by lightning strike in Kent
(about 2 hours later)
Hundreds of Eurostar passengers have been delayed as a result of a lightning strike in Kent. Hundreds of Eurostar passengers suffered delays as a result of a lightning strike in Kent.
The lightning strike caused a fire at a building close to the entrance to the Channel Tunnel, causing overhead electrical power losses near Ashford. The lightning strike on Thursday evening started a fire at a building near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel, causing overhead electrical power losses near Ashford.
Eurostar has posted messages on Twitter saying three London-bound services and one Paris-bound train are affected. Eurostar posted messages on Twitter saying three London-bound services and one Paris-bound train were affected.
It says the London-bound trains are expected to resume within the hour, after power is restored. The London-bound trains arrived at St Pancras by 01:40 GMT.
The firm initially said four trains - two heading from Paris to London, one travelling between Brussels and London and another heading from London to Paris - were travelling back to their points of departure. The firm initially said four trains - heading from Paris to London, Brussels to London and London to Paris - were travelling back to their points of departure.
However, in a later update the service said London-bound trains would continue to their destination.However, in a later update the service said London-bound trains would continue to their destination.
"Customers are being offered taxis and hotels where necessary, but we are hoping to have everything back to normal shortly," a Eurostar spokesman said. Pierre Delalande from Eurostar said the only train that did not reach its destination was a London to Paris service.
Cancellations are also in place on Southeastern trains between Ashford International and Ramsgate. "Customers are being offered taxis and hotels where necessary," he said.
A message on the firm's website says: "We are currently unable to run trains between Dover Priory and Ashford following lightning strikes that have affected signalling in the area." Eurostar said it intends "to run a normal service" on Friday.
Replacement bus services are running in both directions and a shuttle train service is available from Dover Priory to Ramsgate. Cancellations were also in place on Southeastern trains between Ashford International and Ramsgate until the early hours.
Replacement bus services were running in both directions and a shuttle train service was available from Dover Priory to Ramsgate.
Kent Fire and Rescue said firefighters have been called to "a number of incidents" following a lightning storm in the Folkestone and Dover.Kent Fire and Rescue said firefighters have been called to "a number of incidents" following a lightning storm in the Folkestone and Dover.
Crews have been fighting a fire in an electrical substation at the Dollands Moore Freight Depot, in Folkestone, the service said.Crews have been fighting a fire in an electrical substation at the Dollands Moore Freight Depot, in Folkestone, the service said.