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Channel Tunnel: Cancellations and delays as services resume | Channel Tunnel: Cancellations and delays as services resume |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Eleven Eurostar trains have been cancelled on Sunday, amid continuing delays following Saturday's Channel Tunnel closure due to a lorry fire. | Eleven Eurostar trains have been cancelled on Sunday, amid continuing delays following Saturday's Channel Tunnel closure due to a lorry fire. |
Six Eurostar services from London were cancelled, as well as two from Paris and three from Brussels, after an unrelated power supply problem. | Six Eurostar services from London were cancelled, as well as two from Paris and three from Brussels, after an unrelated power supply problem. |
Rail services resumed on Sunday morning - but passengers have been warned there could be further delays on Monday. | Rail services resumed on Sunday morning - but passengers have been warned there could be further delays on Monday. |
About 12,000 passengers were affected when the tunnel was closed on Saturday. | About 12,000 passengers were affected when the tunnel was closed on Saturday. |
The fire was located in the route's north tunnel, which remained closed during Sunday. | The fire was located in the route's north tunnel, which remained closed during Sunday. |
Train operator Eurostar said it planned to run a "full service" on Monday, but warned trains could be delayed by up to 30 minutes. | Train operator Eurostar said it planned to run a "full service" on Monday, but warned trains could be delayed by up to 30 minutes. |
It said Eurotunnel - which manages and operates the Channel Tunnel - was carrying out engineering works overnight and would put more sections of the north tunnel back into service on Monday. | It said Eurotunnel - which manages and operates the Channel Tunnel - was carrying out engineering works overnight and would put more sections of the north tunnel back into service on Monday. |
Meanwhile, Eurotunnel said the north tunnel was not anticipated to be back in full operation until Tuesday. | Meanwhile, Eurotunnel said the north tunnel was not anticipated to be back in full operation until Tuesday. |
"We're optimistic, however, that we will regain use of part of this tunnel and will operate a more regular timetable than we have today," it said. | "We're optimistic, however, that we will regain use of part of this tunnel and will operate a more regular timetable than we have today," it said. |
Fresh problems | Fresh problems |
Eurostar passenger trains had started moving through the tunnel again at about 11:30 GMT, but at a reduced speed as only the south tunnel was open. | Eurostar passenger trains had started moving through the tunnel again at about 11:30 GMT, but at a reduced speed as only the south tunnel was open. |
However, there were fresh problems when a power supply fault - unrelated to Saturday's lorry fire - meant the temporary closure again of the south tunnel. | However, there were fresh problems when a power supply fault - unrelated to Saturday's lorry fire - meant the temporary closure again of the south tunnel. |
Eurostar cancelled the 14:04, 15:31, 17:04, 18:04, 18:31 and the 20:04 (all times GMT) departures from London, as well as the 16:43 and 18:43 trains from Paris, and the 15:56, 17:56 and 18:56 services from Brussels. | Eurostar cancelled the 14:04, 15:31, 17:04, 18:04, 18:31 and the 20:04 (all times GMT) departures from London, as well as the 16:43 and 18:43 trains from Paris, and the 15:56, 17:56 and 18:56 services from Brussels. |
On Sunday evening, Eurotunnel - which operates car and lorry services - tweeted there was still a one-hour queue to check-in and a three-hour wait to board shuttles for France. | On Sunday evening, Eurotunnel - which operates car and lorry services - tweeted there was still a one-hour queue to check-in and a three-hour wait to board shuttles for France. |
The delay for Eurotunnel passengers heading from France to the UK was four-and-a-half hours, with some customers waiting up to two hours to check in at Calais, Eurotunnel added. | The delay for Eurotunnel passengers heading from France to the UK was four-and-a-half hours, with some customers waiting up to two hours to check in at Calais, Eurotunnel added. |
Eurotunnel's services started running again in the early hours of Sunday morning after "residue smoke" was cleared from a tunnel. | Eurotunnel's services started running again in the early hours of Sunday morning after "residue smoke" was cleared from a tunnel. |
The company said it had expected to operate a reduced Le Shuttle timetable, with two departures every two hours from both the UK and France. | The company said it had expected to operate a reduced Le Shuttle timetable, with two departures every two hours from both the UK and France. |
'So agitated' | 'So agitated' |
Kim Notman, who was at the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais, told the BBC: "I was loaded on to the train at 09:30 GMT with my car and have now been stuck on the train for the last three hours. | Kim Notman, who was at the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais, told the BBC: "I was loaded on to the train at 09:30 GMT with my car and have now been stuck on the train for the last three hours. |
"The doors to the train have now been opened because people were getting so agitated." | "The doors to the train have now been opened because people were getting so agitated." |
Professor Urfan Khaliq, who was travelling from Paris to London, said: "We've been here around, I guess, nearly three hours now. They've offered free cashew nuts and water to anyone who wants it. | Professor Urfan Khaliq, who was travelling from Paris to London, said: "We've been here around, I guess, nearly three hours now. They've offered free cashew nuts and water to anyone who wants it. |
"People are just sitting here really rather stoically and trying to get on." | "People are just sitting here really rather stoically and trying to get on." |
BBC News correspondent Andy Moore said an extra Eurostar train from London to Paris had been laid on, with 800 seats available, in an attempt to ease the queues. | BBC News correspondent Andy Moore said an extra Eurostar train from London to Paris had been laid on, with 800 seats available, in an attempt to ease the queues. |
Despite the company organising re-bookings, accommodation and refunds, it could be Monday before the backlog was cleared, he added. | Despite the company organising re-bookings, accommodation and refunds, it could be Monday before the backlog was cleared, he added. |
Eurostar - which operates passenger services between Paris, London and Brussels - said 26 of its trains were cancelled on Saturday afternoon, affecting at least 12,000 passengers, following the fire. | Eurostar - which operates passenger services between Paris, London and Brussels - said 26 of its trains were cancelled on Saturday afternoon, affecting at least 12,000 passengers, following the fire. |
The alarm was raised when two CO2 detectors were triggered at 11:25 GMT on Saturday at the French end of the north tunnel. | The alarm was raised when two CO2 detectors were triggered at 11:25 GMT on Saturday at the French end of the north tunnel. |
Eurotunnel said a load on a lorry on board one of its trains, en route from the UK to France, had been "smouldering". | Eurotunnel said a load on a lorry on board one of its trains, en route from the UK to France, had been "smouldering". |
Eurotunnel said passengers had been safely evacuated from trains in the tunnel, and the fire "was quickly brought under control" by French emergency services. | Eurotunnel said passengers had been safely evacuated from trains in the tunnel, and the fire "was quickly brought under control" by French emergency services. |
Firefighters examined the site and a Eurotunnel spokesman said it did not look like there was any significant damage. | Firefighters examined the site and a Eurotunnel spokesman said it did not look like there was any significant damage. |
At St Pancras station and in Paris there were long queues of passengers after services were cancelled. At Folkestone, lines of lorries built up near the Eurotunnel entrance. | At St Pancras station and in Paris there were long queues of passengers after services were cancelled. At Folkestone, lines of lorries built up near the Eurotunnel entrance. |
Eurostar's customer care number is 03432 186 186, or +44 1777 777 878 for people outside the UK. | Eurostar's customer care number is 03432 186 186, or +44 1777 777 878 for people outside the UK. |
Eurotunnel's information line is +44 8444 63 00 00. | Eurotunnel's information line is +44 8444 63 00 00. |