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Channel Tunnel breakdown: Eurostar trains cancelled | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Eurostar passengers face further cancellations on Tuesday after a train broke down in the Channel Tunnel. | |
Hundreds of passengers have had to be evacuated from Monday's 06:20 BST train from Folkestone, which stopped about a quarter of the way to France. | |
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. |
Eurostar said four trains on Tuesday morning- two in each direction - have been cancelled | |
'Loss of power' | |
In a statement on Monday night, the firm said: "Eurotunnel engineers are working to resolve the issues and restore full power to the affected section of the tunnel. | In a statement on Monday night, the firm said: "Eurotunnel engineers are working to resolve the issues and restore full power to the affected section of the tunnel. |
"As a consequence of the ongoing loss of power, Eurotunnel has informed Eurostar that some further disruption should be expected to services tomorrow morning. | "As a consequence of the ongoing loss of power, Eurotunnel has informed Eurostar that some further disruption should be expected to services tomorrow morning. |
"In anticipation and in order to safeguard the majority of services for the remainder of the day, unfortunately it has become necessary to cancel four Eurostar trains." | |
The cancelled services are: | |
The broken down train reached France at 17:15 BST on Monday where passengers were reunited with their cars. | The broken down train reached France at 17:15 BST on Monday where passengers were reunited with their cars. |
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. |
'Not heard a peep' | |
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. |
Cyclists competing in the Tour de France flew to France on Monday evening on four chartered planes from London City Airport, after finishing the third stage in London. | |
P&O Ferries was preparing to transport the Tour's entourage earlier. The fourth stage is set to begin in Le Touquet on Tuesday. | P&O Ferries was preparing to transport the Tour's entourage earlier. The fourth stage is set to begin in Le Touquet on Tuesday. |
Brian Rees, from the ferry company, said: "We've got something like 1,100 Tour vehicles coming through the course of the afternoon and into the evening. | Brian Rees, from the ferry company, said: "We've got something like 1,100 Tour vehicles coming through the course of the afternoon and into the evening. |
Michael and Catherine Pike, from south-east London, said they had been stranded in a car park in Calais for about three hours while trying to get back home. | Michael and Catherine Pike, from south-east London, said they had been stranded in a car park in Calais for about three hours while trying to get back home. |
Mrs Pike, 80, said: "We were hoping to catch a ferry but haven't heard a peep out of anybody at all. | Mrs Pike, 80, said: "We were hoping to catch a ferry but haven't heard a peep out of anybody at all. |
"There is food but nobody says a word." | "There is food but nobody says a word." |
The Port of Dover advised people to contact their ferry operator before travelling. | The Port of Dover advised people to contact their ferry operator before travelling. |
Eurotunnel apologised for the delays and said it had tried to keep customers moving. | Eurotunnel apologised for the delays and said it had tried to keep customers moving. |
Have you been affected by the Eurostar delays? Will you be affected by the cancellations? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Eurostar'. |