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| Channel Tunnel train delay and cancellation 'chaos' | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Channel Tunnel rail passengers have faced train cancellations and major delays after a series of problems led to a backlog in services. | |
| A Eurotunnel train broke down in one tunnel, as a technical issue closed the other. Both issues were later fixed. | |
| But delays continued to hit passenger and freight services ahead of the busy Easter weekend. A fatality near Lille further delayed Eurostar trains. | |
| The BBC's Paul Moss, at the Paris Eurostar, described scenes of "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. | Eurostar operates from St Pancras, Ashford and Ebbsfleet in England, Paris and Lille in France, and Brussels in Belgium. |
| Eurotunnel, a separate company, runs a service called le Shuttle between Folkestone and Calais. | Eurotunnel, a separate company, runs a service called le Shuttle between Folkestone and Calais. |
| A Eurotunnel spokesman said both rail tunnels were now "fully open" and services were "getting back to normal". | A Eurotunnel spokesman said both rail tunnels were now "fully open" and services were "getting back to normal". |
| But Mr Calder said track closures in France meant no Eurostar trains could leave London after 21:30 BST, causing a knock-on effect for Friday morning. | But Mr Calder said track closures in France meant no Eurostar trains could leave London after 21:30 BST, causing a knock-on effect for Friday morning. |
| He said Thursday's passengers could re-book for a future date or try travelling on Friday - but he warned trains would be "very full". | He said Thursday's 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. |
| Those with a ticket to travel on Friday have been advised to "check in as normal". | Those with a ticket to travel on Friday have been advised to "check in as normal". |
| Mr Calder added: "Although the factors that have caused this are out of our control, we apologise to passengers who have been affected by this." | Mr Calder added: "Although the factors that have caused this are out of our control, we apologise to passengers who have been affected by this." |
| Catch up | Catch up |
| Eurotunnel, whose le Shuttle service carries cars and freight, said one of its trains had broken down in one of the tunnels earlier. | Eurotunnel, whose le Shuttle service carries cars and freight, said one of its trains had broken down in one of the tunnels earlier. |
| A company spokesman said trains then had to be stopped in the other tunnel due to a "technical problem" with the overhead power lines. Both tunnels have one rail line. | A company spokesman said trains then had to be stopped in the other tunnel due to a "technical problem" with the overhead power lines. Both tunnels have one rail line. |
| The spokesman said: "We will be running a four-departure-per-hour service from both sides [Britain and France] so hopefully the waiting times will start to come down quite quickly. | The spokesman said: "We will be running a four-departure-per-hour service from both sides [Britain and France] so hopefully the waiting times will start to come down quite quickly. |
| "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. |
| He added Eurotunnel services had not been affected by the fatality near Lille. | He added Eurotunnel services had not been affected by the fatality near Lille. |
| 'Complete chaos' | 'Complete chaos' |
| 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. |
| 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". |
| 'Easter in London' | 'Easter in London' |
| Passenger Gavin Leisfield, who arrived at St Pancras in London at about 17:30 BST for a Eurostar train, spoke to the BBC almost four hours later. | Passenger Gavin Leisfield, who arrived at St Pancras in London at about 17:30 BST for a Eurostar train, spoke to the BBC almost four hours later. |
| He said he had been handed a letter saying all trains had been cancelled for the evening, but other people were still queuing and were unaware of that decision. | He said he had been handed a letter saying all trains had been cancelled for the evening, but other people were still queuing and were unaware of that decision. |
| "If they knew that services weren't happening and they told people then they could have made other arrangements," he said. | "If they knew that services weren't happening and they told people then they could have made other arrangements," he said. |
| "But there's been no one on the ground." | "But there's been no one on the ground." |
| He added: "We were actually going to go to Paris for the day and then get a connecting train to Berlin overnight but that's not going to happen. Oh well, Easter in London. It's not so bad." | He added: "We were actually going to go to Paris for the day and then get a connecting train to Berlin overnight but that's not going to happen. Oh well, Easter in London. It's not so bad." |
| 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'. | 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'. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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