This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/17/channel-tunnel-closed-lorry-catches-fire
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Channel tunnel closed after lorry catches fire | Channel tunnel closed after lorry catches fire |
| (less than a minute earlier) | |
| Rail services through the Channel tunnel were suspended on Saturday afternoon after a lorry caught fire. | Rail services through the Channel tunnel were suspended on Saturday afternoon after a lorry caught fire. |
| Services were put on hold after smoke caused by the blaze on the French side filled the tunnel. | Services were put on hold after smoke caused by the blaze on the French side filled the tunnel. |
| “The fire was at the French end of the tunnel and is being dealt with by the French authorities. There are no reported injuries,” a Kent police spokesman said. | “The fire was at the French end of the tunnel and is being dealt with by the French authorities. There are no reported injuries,” a Kent police spokesman said. |
| Eurotunnel said that a lorry on a Le Shuttle train – which carries vehicles – had a “smouldering load” that triggered carbon dioxide detectors. | Eurotunnel said that a lorry on a Le Shuttle train – which carries vehicles – had a “smouldering load” that triggered carbon dioxide detectors. |
| Although the tracks were not damaged, four trains in and out of England were affected. Three eventually reached their destinations but the fourth, which had been heading to Paris, returned to London. | Although the tracks were not damaged, four trains in and out of England were affected. Three eventually reached their destinations but the fourth, which had been heading to Paris, returned to London. |
| A Eurotunnel spokesman said that vehicle and freight services were expected to resume on Saturday night as soon as French firefighters gave the all-clear. | A Eurotunnel spokesman said that vehicle and freight services were expected to resume on Saturday night as soon as French firefighters gave the all-clear. |
| Eurostar said it would not be restarting services on Saturday night. In a message posted on its website, it said: “We are sorry but we are unable to run any further trains today because Eurotunnel has been closed due to smoke detected in the north tunnel.” | Eurostar said it would not be restarting services on Saturday night. In a message posted on its website, it said: “We are sorry but we are unable to run any further trains today because Eurotunnel has been closed due to smoke detected in the north tunnel.” |
| Eurostar said it would run a full service on Sunday “for passengers who have an existing reservation for this date”. It said trains would be delayed by between 30 and 60 minutes because of only one tunnel being open. People whose trains were cancelled on Saturday were advised not to arrive at stations unless they had already been re-booked. | Eurostar said it would run a full service on Sunday “for passengers who have an existing reservation for this date”. It said trains would be delayed by between 30 and 60 minutes because of only one tunnel being open. People whose trains were cancelled on Saturday were advised not to arrive at stations unless they had already been re-booked. |
| Eurostar passengers have been advised to call 01233 617 575 to rebook their trips or get a refund. | Eurostar passengers have been advised to call 01233 617 575 to rebook their trips or get a refund. |
| Tickets can be refunded or rebooked within the next 60 days for travel within six months, the company said on Twitter. | Tickets can be refunded or rebooked within the next 60 days for travel within six months, the company said on Twitter. |
| Long queues of passengers hoping to travel on Saturday formed at St Pancras station in London and Gare du Nord in Paris. | Long queues of passengers hoping to travel on Saturday formed at St Pancras station in London and Gare du Nord in Paris. |
| Matt Sheppard, 26, of Bethnal Green in east London, was on his way from Paris to London after skiing with friends at La Plagne in the Alps. | Matt Sheppard, 26, of Bethnal Green in east London, was on his way from Paris to London after skiing with friends at La Plagne in the Alps. |
| He said he had been told at Gare du Nord that trains may not be running again until Sunday or even Monday, leaving him to consider other ways of getting home. | He said he had been told at Gare du Nord that trains may not be running again until Sunday or even Monday, leaving him to consider other ways of getting home. |
| “When we got here, we very quickly found out that no trains were going to run today. There are loads of people just trying to figure out what they should do,” Sheppard said. | “When we got here, we very quickly found out that no trains were going to run today. There are loads of people just trying to figure out what they should do,” Sheppard said. |
| He added that Eurostar staff were helping passengers and telling them how to claim back the cost of a hotel room, but that they had little information about when trains might start running again. | He added that Eurostar staff were helping passengers and telling them how to claim back the cost of a hotel room, but that they had little information about when trains might start running again. |