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| Channel Tunnel train delays cause 'chaos' | Channel Tunnel train delays cause 'chaos' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of Channel Tunnel rail passengers are stuck at stations after a series of problems caused delays. | Hundreds of Channel Tunnel rail passengers are stuck at stations after a series of problems caused delays. |
| A Eurotunnel train broke down in one tunnel earlier, then a technical problem closed the other tunnel. | A Eurotunnel train broke down in one tunnel earlier, then a technical problem closed the other tunnel. |
| The problems affected passenger and freight services, and a fatality near Lille further delayed Eurostar passenger trains. | The problems affected passenger and freight services, and a fatality near Lille further delayed Eurostar passenger trains. |
| The BBC's Paul Moss, who was waiting for a Eurostar train in Paris, said the scene there was "extraordinary chaos". | The BBC's Paul Moss, who was waiting for a Eurostar train in Paris, said the scene there was "extraordinary chaos". |
| Eurostar spokesman Leigh Calder said the firm was "incredibly sorry" for the disruption, especially as so many passengers were trying to get away for the Easter weekend. | Eurostar spokesman Leigh Calder said the firm was "incredibly sorry" for the disruption, especially as so many passengers were trying to get away for the Easter weekend. |
| He confirmed 14 out of 44 Eurostar trains due to run on Thursday - which can each hold 750 passengers - had been cancelled. | He confirmed 14 out of 44 Eurostar trains due to run on Thursday - which can each hold 750 passengers - had been cancelled. |
| Eurostar operates from St Pancras, Ashford and Ebbsfleet in England, Paris and Lille in France, and Brussels in Belgium, while Eurotunnel's le Shuttle services run between Folkestone and Calais. | Eurostar operates from St Pancras, Ashford and Ebbsfleet in England, Paris and Lille in France, and Brussels in Belgium, while Eurotunnel's le Shuttle services run between Folkestone and Calais. |
| Mr Calder said track closures in France meant the last train from London needed to depart by 21:30 BST if it was to reach its destination. This meant Eurostar was unable to run more trains on Thursday. | Mr Calder said track closures in France meant the last train from London needed to depart by 21:30 BST if it was to reach its destination. This meant Eurostar was unable to run more trains on Thursday. |
| "The last thing we would want would be to run a service that couldn't then reach its final destination and had to turn around or, God forbid, spend the evening on the tracks, so that's not what we're going to do," he said. | "The last thing we would want would be to run a service that couldn't then reach its final destination and had to turn around or, God forbid, spend the evening on the tracks, so that's not what we're going to do," he said. |
| He said passengers could re-book for a future date or try travelling on Friday - but he warned trains would be "very full". | He said passengers could re-book for a future date or try travelling on Friday - but he warned trains would be "very full". |
| Passengers not able to travel would get a "full refund", he said, while those stranded at stations without a place to stay would have "reasonable" hotel, travel and food expenses reimbursed. | Passengers not able to travel would get a "full refund", he said, while those stranded at stations without a place to stay would have "reasonable" hotel, travel and food expenses reimbursed. |
| Mr Calder added that the problems which led to the delays were "out of our control". | Mr Calder added that the problems which led to the delays were "out of our control". |
| Catch up | Catch up |
| Eurotunnel, whose le Shuttle service carries for cars and freight, said one of its trains broke down in one of the tunnels earlier. | Eurotunnel, whose le Shuttle service carries for cars and freight, said one of its trains broke down in one of the tunnels earlier. |
| Each of the tunnels has one rail line, and a company spokesman said trains had to be stopped in the other tunnel due to a "technical problem" with the overhead power lines. | Each of the tunnels has one rail line, and a company spokesman said trains had to be stopped in the other tunnel due to a "technical problem" with the overhead power lines. |
| He said its services were not affected by the fatality near Lille. | He said its services were not affected by the fatality near Lille. |
| The spokesman said the tunnels were now "fully open" and services were "getting back to normal". | The spokesman said the tunnels were now "fully open" and services were "getting back to normal". |
| "We will be running a four-departure-per-hour service from both sides so hopefully the waiting times will start to come down quite quickly," he said. | "We will be running a four-departure-per-hour service from both sides so hopefully the waiting times will start to come down quite quickly," he said. |
| "There will be extra departures through the night to make sure we catch up." | "There will be extra departures through the night to make sure we catch up." |
| But he said this would take "some time" due to the number of people waiting. | But he said this would take "some time" due to the number of people waiting. |
| Meanwhile, many drivers also found their journeys delayed in what traffic information firm Inrix said was the busiest day of the year so far on the UK's roads | Meanwhile, many drivers also found their journeys delayed in what traffic information firm Inrix said was the busiest day of the year so far on the UK's roads |
| 'Complete chaos' | 'Complete chaos' |
| Speaking from the Gare du Nord in Paris, the BBC's Paul Moss said "hundreds and hundreds" of people were "milling around and not being told what was going on". | Speaking from the Gare du Nord in Paris, the BBC's Paul Moss said "hundreds and hundreds" of people were "milling around and not being told what was going on". |
| "We received various contradictory messages," he said. | "We received various contradictory messages," he said. |
| "It was left to a couple of besieged individuals to try and hold back the crowds and explain. | "It was left to a couple of besieged individuals to try and hold back the crowds and explain. |
| "First they said there were a couple of trains going then they said there were no trains at all." | "First they said there were a couple of trains going then they said there were no trains at all." |
| He said "nobody is really getting clear information on what to do", and the Eurostar ticket office was closed at 18:00 despite the number of people waiting for trains. | He said "nobody is really getting clear information on what to do", and the Eurostar ticket office was closed at 18:00 despite the number of people waiting for trains. |
| He added that "scenes of complete chaos" developed, with "at least a dozen policemen trying to deal with this very angry crowd of passengers". | He added that "scenes of complete chaos" developed, with "at least a dozen policemen trying to deal with this very angry crowd of passengers". |
| Are you affected by the Eurostar delays? Send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Eurostar'. | |
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