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Calais chaos: Eurostar, Eurotunnel and ferry services return to normal Calais: Eurostar, Eurotunnel and ferry services return to normal
(35 minutes later)
Cross-channel ferry and train services were returning to normal on Wednesday after a wildcat strike at Calais by French ferry workers brought chaos for passengers travelling between the UK and France.Cross-channel ferry and train services were returning to normal on Wednesday after a wildcat strike at Calais by French ferry workers brought chaos for passengers travelling between the UK and France.
Eurostar trains were resuming a “full and normal service”, although customers were advised to allow at least 45 minutes to check in, while P&O Ferries said its Dover to Calais crossings were fully operational with spaces available. There were long queues for the Eurostar at St Pancras this morning but the first trains left on time. Eurostar trains were resuming a “full and normal service”, although customers were advised to allow at least 45 minutes to check in, while P&O Ferries said its Dover to Calais crossings were fully operational with spaces available.
The Eurostar website confirmed the first train of the day from Paris to London left as scheduled at 7.10am (05.10 GMT). The first train from London to Paris also departed on time. The Eurostar website confirmed the first train of the day from Paris to London left as scheduled at 7.10am (05.10 GMT). The first train from London to Paris also departed on time. Eurotunnel said its passenger service was running to schedule on both terminals with no waiting time.
Some passengers spent the night at St Pancras station in London after their trains were cancelled. Vanessa Magdelyns, 33, from Brussels, said she and “at least 50” people spent the night in the station.Some passengers spent the night at St Pancras station in London after their trains were cancelled. Vanessa Magdelyns, 33, from Brussels, said she and “at least 50” people spent the night in the station.
“I lay down to rest but no sleeping. It was too cold. We didn’t get any blankets,” she said, adding that she would have expected blankets to have been handed out. “When they seen that we were staying here overnight they could have helped us.”“I lay down to rest but no sleeping. It was too cold. We didn’t get any blankets,” she said, adding that she would have expected blankets to have been handed out. “When they seen that we were staying here overnight they could have helped us.”
She was due to get the 5pm train to Brussels on Tuesday but is now booked on a service later on Wednesday.She was due to get the 5pm train to Brussels on Tuesday but is now booked on a service later on Wednesday.
Eurotunnel said its passenger service was running to schedule on both terminals with no waiting time. Many passengers had booked into nearby hotels after Tuesday’s cancellations. A group of Belgian students on a visit to London had been due to travel home. “It has been a very stressful 24 hours,” said their teacher as they queued for the first Eurostar on Wednesday morning. “We are just hoping that we are now on our way.”
MyFerryLink – whose workers were behind the impromptu industrial action – also said their crossings to Calais had returned to their normal timetable.MyFerryLink – whose workers were behind the impromptu industrial action – also said their crossings to Calais had returned to their normal timetable.
However, roads in Kent remained congested, with police saying they would continue with Operation Stack, which has turned the M20 motorway into a lorry park.However, roads in Kent remained congested, with police saying they would continue with Operation Stack, which has turned the M20 motorway into a lorry park.
Travelling to @Port_of_Dover or @LeShuttle? @Kent_Police continue to manage #OpStack. #M20 closed J8 - J9 coastbound. http://t.co/0CYVamgIMUTravelling to @Port_of_Dover or @LeShuttle? @Kent_Police continue to manage #OpStack. #M20 closed J8 - J9 coastbound. http://t.co/0CYVamgIMU
After all cross-channel ferry services to the port of Calais were cancelled, the ensuing chaos led to long tailbacks on both sides of the Channel. In Calais hundreds of migrants, hoping to reach the UK, attempted to break into stationary cars and lorries as they waited on gridlocked motorways. After all cross-channel ferry services to the port of Calais were cancelled, the ensuing chaos led to long tailbacks on both sides of the Channel. In Calais hundreds of migrants, hoping to reach the UK, attempted to break into stationary cars and lorries as they waited on gridlocked motorways
More resources will be put into screening arrivals at Dover, immigration minister James Brokenshire has said, adding that extra French police officers are being deployed in Calais to deal with the problem. James Brokenshire, the UK’s immigration minister, blamed the chaos in Calais on the “hugely regrettable” industrial action, saying it had acted as the trigger to the scenes that everyone was seeing on their televisions.
Brokenshire told the BBC: “It is hugely regrettable that we’ve seen these incidents occurring as a result of industrial action in France. He said the UK was deploying “additional resourcing into the port of Dover to enhance screenings and detections there so that we’re looking at this on both sides of the Channel”.
“We are putting additional resourcing into the port of Dover to enhance screenings and detections there so that we’re looking at this on both sides of the Channel.” Part of the £12m promised by the UK to help deal with the crisis last September has been used to tell people in the refugee camps that they will not automatically get benefits, housing and asylum if they come to the UK, Brokenshire said.
He added: “We have been advised the French authorities are sending further policing to deal with law and order issues, and we will be keeping in close contact with them in the hours ahead.” However, he insisted that ultimate responsibility to guarantee security and safety at Calais lay with the French, as policing on their soil was a matter for them.
Footage from Calais showed migrants running to the open doors of a slow-moving lorry. The UK foreign office advised travellers to keep vehicle doors locked.Footage from Calais showed migrants running to the open doors of a slow-moving lorry. The UK foreign office advised travellers to keep vehicle doors locked.
There are more than 3,000 men, women and children living in squalid conditions in a large camp just outside Calais. Many of them have fled persecution and war in east Africa and the Middle East, and are trying to make their way to the UK.There are more than 3,000 men, women and children living in squalid conditions in a large camp just outside Calais. Many of them have fled persecution and war in east Africa and the Middle East, and are trying to make their way to the UK.
Aid workers said last week that conditions in the camp were worse than ever, with a lack of food and shelter. They said migrants were becoming increasingly desperate and were prepared to take ever greater risks to get the UK.Aid workers said last week that conditions in the camp were worse than ever, with a lack of food and shelter. They said migrants were becoming increasingly desperate and were prepared to take ever greater risks to get the UK.
Tuesday’s chaotic scenes were sparked by unannounced strike action by ferry workers, which began at 3.50am. Employees of the French ferry company MyFerryLink were protesting against plans to sell two of their ferries to rival firm DFDS.Tuesday’s chaotic scenes were sparked by unannounced strike action by ferry workers, which began at 3.50am. Employees of the French ferry company MyFerryLink were protesting against plans to sell two of their ferries to rival firm DFDS.
Eurotunnel suspended its services for safety reasons after French port workers trespassed on its tracks.Eurotunnel suspended its services for safety reasons after French port workers trespassed on its tracks.
Thousands of travellers were trapped, and there were hectic scenes at St Pancras station in London, as train services were halted. On Tuesday night, Eurostar said fire had damaged parts of the track, but following overnight repair work, services would resume on Wednesday morning.Thousands of travellers were trapped, and there were hectic scenes at St Pancras station in London, as train services were halted. On Tuesday night, Eurostar said fire had damaged parts of the track, but following overnight repair work, services would resume on Wednesday morning.
The chief executive of P&O Ferries, Helen Deeble, said her company was “bearing the brunt” of the chaos at Calais and called on French authorities to do more “to ensure the safety of staff and customers in and around the port of Calais”.The chief executive of P&O Ferries, Helen Deeble, said her company was “bearing the brunt” of the chaos at Calais and called on French authorities to do more “to ensure the safety of staff and customers in and around the port of Calais”.
Eurostar said travellers affected by Tuesday’s cancellations could exchange or refund their tickets.Eurostar said travellers affected by Tuesday’s cancellations could exchange or refund their tickets.
Three trains stuck outside the tunnel on the English side had to return to St Pancras on Tuesday, while other trains on the French side were taken back to Paris and Brussels.Three trains stuck outside the tunnel on the English side had to return to St Pancras on Tuesday, while other trains on the French side were taken back to Paris and Brussels.
A Port of Dover spokesman said Operation Stack – where freight traffic is held on the coastbound carriageway of the M20 in Kent – would remain in place on Wednesday morning due to the volume of lorries.A Port of Dover spokesman said Operation Stack – where freight traffic is held on the coastbound carriageway of the M20 in Kent – would remain in place on Wednesday morning due to the volume of lorries.