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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/30/cross-channel-ferries-cancelled-striking-port-workers-close-calais-again
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| Eurostar and Eurotunnel services cancelled for the rest of the day | |
| (36 minutes later) | |
| Eurostar and Eurotunnel services have been suspended for the rest of the day after striking ferry workers set fire to the track in Calais. | |
| Ferry services between Dover and Calais also remained suspended on Tuesday as the workers continued their blockade of the northern French port. | |
| Eurotunnel tweeted: “Due to French port workers present on the French terminal tracks, our service is currently suspended. Please accept our apologises [sic].” | |
| Eurostar said: “Channel tunnel access is currently suspended due to fire on the tracks in Calais caused by demonstrators. Further updates to follow shortly.” | |
| Shortly before 2pm, the operator added: “We have been advised by Eurotunnel that we will be unable to run any services for the rest of the day. We expect normal service to resume tomorrow.” | |
| There was chaos when protesters in Calais broke into the Channel tunnel last week, causing long tailbacks at both ends. In Calais, hundreds of migrants attempted to break into stationary cars and lorries that were waiting on gridlocked motorways. | |
| Due to French Port workers present on the French Terminal tracks, our service is currently suspended. Please accept our apologises. ^SL | Due to French Port workers present on the French Terminal tracks, our service is currently suspended. Please accept our apologises. ^SL |
| Channel tunnel access is currently suspended due to fire on the tracks in Calais caused by demonstrators. Further updates to follow shortly. | Channel tunnel access is currently suspended due to fire on the tracks in Calais caused by demonstrators. Further updates to follow shortly. |
| Kent police said the port at Calais was expected to remain closed until Thursday. | Kent police said the port at Calais was expected to remain closed until Thursday. |
| The M20 remained shut coastbound between junctions eight and nine as part of Operation Stack, the force’s attempt to avoid causing gridlock across the county’s road network. | |
| @BBCNews and the queues go on for mile after mile after this! #calais #eurotunnel pic.twitter.com/CKJ3Z6vsRN | |
| A police spokesman said: “This allows backed-up freight traffic to park on the coastbound carriageway of the M20. It is important to note that as a result of a build-up of heavy freight traffic on the M20, A20 and roads in and around Dover, junction 13 of the M20 is also currently closed in the direction of the port of Dover. All non-freight traffic will need to follow diversions or seek alternative routes.” | A police spokesman said: “This allows backed-up freight traffic to park on the coastbound carriageway of the M20. It is important to note that as a result of a build-up of heavy freight traffic on the M20, A20 and roads in and around Dover, junction 13 of the M20 is also currently closed in the direction of the port of Dover. All non-freight traffic will need to follow diversions or seek alternative routes.” |
| Lorry drivers at the front of the queue were being given a ticket to continue their journey to the continent. | Lorry drivers at the front of the queue were being given a ticket to continue their journey to the continent. |
| Kent police warned motorists to take precautions during the heatwave hitting the UK, including keeping their vehicles ventilated to avoid drowsiness and drinking plenty of cold fluids. | Kent police warned motorists to take precautions during the heatwave hitting the UK, including keeping their vehicles ventilated to avoid drowsiness and drinking plenty of cold fluids. |
| In a statement, P&O Ferries, which has cancelled all services in and out of Calais, pointed the finger of blame at Eurotunnel and the British and French governments for the disruption. | In a statement, P&O Ferries, which has cancelled all services in and out of Calais, pointed the finger of blame at Eurotunnel and the British and French governments for the disruption. |
| P&O’s chief executive, Helen Deeble, said: “Through no fault of their own, our passengers are caught in the middle of an industrial relations battle that has been caused by Eurotunnel, who sold their ships to a rival ferry company without securing the jobs of the workers involved. This has left thousands of holidaymakers and lorry drivers stranded without adequate facilities – even though our employees at the port have done their level best to keep them supplied with food and water. | P&O’s chief executive, Helen Deeble, said: “Through no fault of their own, our passengers are caught in the middle of an industrial relations battle that has been caused by Eurotunnel, who sold their ships to a rival ferry company without securing the jobs of the workers involved. This has left thousands of holidaymakers and lorry drivers stranded without adequate facilities – even though our employees at the port have done their level best to keep them supplied with food and water. |
| “Let me be clear: the buck stops with the French government. They have shown that they can move swiftly to stop any disruption at the tunnel. But they have effectively abandoned any attempt to maintain security at the port of Calais, which makes a nonsense of European cooperation. | “Let me be clear: the buck stops with the French government. They have shown that they can move swiftly to stop any disruption at the tunnel. But they have effectively abandoned any attempt to maintain security at the port of Calais, which makes a nonsense of European cooperation. |
| “And when is the British government going to stand up to ensure that we can all get to mainland Europe safely and securely? Every day that the disruption lasts costs UK plc millions of pounds. P&O Ferries alone employs thousands of people on both sides of the Channel and this damaging and dangerous industrial action is now putting those jobs at risk.” | “And when is the British government going to stand up to ensure that we can all get to mainland Europe safely and securely? Every day that the disruption lasts costs UK plc millions of pounds. P&O Ferries alone employs thousands of people on both sides of the Channel and this damaging and dangerous industrial action is now putting those jobs at risk.” |
| Crossings to Dunkirk and other French ports continued as normal. | Crossings to Dunkirk and other French ports continued as normal. |
| The strike action, which began on Monday afternoon, was a response to hundreds of workers being told they could lose their jobs after the competition authority ruled Eurotunnel group should sell MyFerryLink. A proposed takeover by DFDS would protect only about half the 600 employees. |