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Eurotunnel train stopped in Channel Tunnel by power fault Eurotunnel train stopped in Channel Tunnel by power fault
(35 minutes later)
A power fault has stopped a Eurotunnel train in the Channel Tunnel, causing hundreds of passengers to be evacuated from the train and causing long delays. Hundreds of passengers have had to be evacuated from a broken-down train in the Channel Tunnel in an incident which has led to long delays to travellers.
The 06:20 BST train from Folkestone, carrying 382 people, stopped about a quarter of the way to France.The 06:20 BST train from Folkestone, carrying 382 people, stopped about a quarter of the way to France.
Eurotunnel said the train was being moved but long delays and queues were expected all day. The 382 passengers were evacuated and taken on to the French terminal.
The delays could affect the Tour de France, with teams travelling to France after Monday's stage ending in London. Long delays and queues are expected all day. The broken down train reached France at 17:15 BST where passengers were reunited with their cars.
Eurotunnel, which carries passengers in vehicles on board trains between Folkestone and Coquelles, said the train had started to be moved, allowing repair work on the power supply fault to begin, which would continue into the night. The delays could affect the support teams travelling to France for the Tour de France. On Monday evening, the riders flew to France on four chartered aeroplanes from London City Airport.
A spokesman said services should run normally on Tuesday. A spokesman for Eurotunnel said services should run normally on Tuesday.
There are also delays on Eurostar passenger services, with delays and cancellations on trains between London St Pancras and Paris and Brussels.There are also delays on Eurostar passenger services, with delays and cancellations on trains between London St Pancras and Paris and Brussels.
Eurotunnel said a fault with the overhead power lines in the tunnel caused the problem.Eurotunnel said a fault with the overhead power lines in the tunnel caused the problem.
'Crashing noise'
The driver brought the train to a stop and passengers were evacuated into the middle service tunnel, which runs between the two main tunnels and is designed to allow people to escape from halted trains.The driver brought the train to a stop and passengers were evacuated into the middle service tunnel, which runs between the two main tunnels and is designed to allow people to escape from halted trains.
A train was brought from France along the other main tunnel and parked alongside the stopped train to allow passengers to board it and be carried to France without their cars.A train was brought from France along the other main tunnel and parked alongside the stopped train to allow passengers to board it and be carried to France without their cars.
Passenger Richard Byrom, from Maidstone, told BBC Radio Kent: "All of a sudden I heard this crashing noise, it didn't sound like the train itself had crashed but what became evident later on was that the power cables had got entangled or come down.Passenger Richard Byrom, from Maidstone, told BBC Radio Kent: "All of a sudden I heard this crashing noise, it didn't sound like the train itself had crashed but what became evident later on was that the power cables had got entangled or come down.
"For about 20 minutes the train just stopped and we didn't know what had happened."For about 20 minutes the train just stopped and we didn't know what had happened.
"Eventually they said they are going to take us off the train because they couldn't move our train because it was trapped by the power cables or something like that.""Eventually they said they are going to take us off the train because they couldn't move our train because it was trapped by the power cables or something like that."
He said the passengers had to wait in the service tunnel for about half an hour before boarding the train that took them to France and he had been stuck for about four hours in total. He said they were given an evacuation pack of a pen, notepad, playing cards, torch, fan, water and wet wipes.He said the passengers had to wait in the service tunnel for about half an hour before boarding the train that took them to France and he had been stuck for about four hours in total. He said they were given an evacuation pack of a pen, notepad, playing cards, torch, fan, water and wet wipes.
Another passenger, Brian Tait from Dover, said the process had been "civilised" but added: "Communication has been bad, we have not heard when we will get our car back, it's all been word of mouth." Another passenger, Brian Tait from Dover, said earlier that the process had been "civilised" but added: "Communication has been bad, we have not heard when we will get our car back, it's all been word of mouth."
Luke Chaplin, who said he was starting a holiday with his wife that was a wedding present, said: "It started off really well, there was lot of communication, and we were off the train fairly quickly, well in four hours." Luke Chaplin, who said he was starting a holiday with his wife that was a wedding present, said: "It started off really well, there was lot of communication, and we were off the train fairly quickly, well in four hours.
"We've been at the French terminal since noon, and we've not heard much since then."We've been at the French terminal since noon, and we've not heard much since then.
"We've been given water and a sandwich, just one sandwich. Nobody has said anything about compensation.""We've been given water and a sandwich, just one sandwich. Nobody has said anything about compensation."
He said passengers waiting for their cars had then had to evacuate the terminal building in France when a fire alarm sounded.He said passengers waiting for their cars had then had to evacuate the terminal building in France when a fire alarm sounded.
A Eurotunnel spokesman said: "The evacuated passengers are now at the French terminal and are waiting for the affected train to arrive so they can get their cars.
"The train has been cleared from the incident site and it is making its way to France."
The train was only about seven miles into its 30 mile tunnel route when it stopped and the spokesman said it would have been quicker to tow it back to Kent but the company chose to take it to France so passengers could be reunited with their cars.The train was only about seven miles into its 30 mile tunnel route when it stopped and the spokesman said it would have been quicker to tow it back to Kent but the company chose to take it to France so passengers could be reunited with their cars.
At about 16:00 BST he said the train would reach France "soonish" but it was not possible to estimate a time.
"We are talking about a train that is virtually a kilometre long and so to check that everything is clear under it someone has to walk the length of the train," he said.
"It then has to be towed to France and there are different rules for towing trains.
"We would like it to be quicker for the passengers but we have to do it safely."
Tour de FranceTour de France
Eurotunnel continues to run services in the one unblocked tunnel with trains running in one direction for 90 minutes and then in the opposite direction for 90 minutes.Eurotunnel continues to run services in the one unblocked tunnel with trains running in one direction for 90 minutes and then in the opposite direction for 90 minutes.
The firm has stopped taking bookings for the day. It said there was a waiting time of approximately 60 minutes before check-in and up to five hours at the terminal. The firm has stopped taking bookings for the day. It said there was a waiting time of up to six hours at the terminal.
Eurostar, which operates passenger trains through the tunnel running between London and Paris and Brussels, has cancelled a number of services in each direction and warned passengers on trains that were running to expect delays.Eurostar, which operates passenger trains through the tunnel running between London and Paris and Brussels, has cancelled a number of services in each direction and warned passengers on trains that were running to expect delays.
"If travel today is non-essential you can exchange your ticket, free of charge, to another available service within the next four months," it told customers."If travel today is non-essential you can exchange your ticket, free of charge, to another available service within the next four months," it told customers.
If delays continue, they could hit the cyclists competing in the Tour de France. The cyclists competing in the Tour de France are due to be on French soil on Monday evening after flying on four chartered planes from London City Airport, after finishing the third stage in London.
After the Monday stage finishes on the Mall in central London, the whole Tour de France convoy, with teams travelling on coaches, is due to head to France, where the fourth stage is set to begin in Le Touquet on Tuesday. Whether the Tour's vast fleet of support vehicles make it across the Channel depends in part on a fully-functioning Eurotunnel.
Has your journey been disrupted by the Eurotunnel evacuation? If so we would like to speak to you. You can share your experience by emailing us via haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using "Euro tunnel" as the heading. The fourth stage is set to begin in Le Touquet on Tuesday.