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/jun/30/cross-channel-ferries-cancelled-striking-port-workers-close-calais-again

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Eurostar and Eurotunnel services cancelled for the rest of the day Channel tunnel reopens after fire set by French strikers but travel chaos goes on
(about 1 hour 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. Striking ferry workers have set fire to tracks inside the Channel tunnel, as the chaos prompted desperate migrants to try to break into stationary vehicles in a repeat of scenes that played out a week ago.
Ferry services between Dover and Calais also remained suspended on Tuesday as the workers continued their blockade of the northern French port. Eurostar and Eurotunnel services were both suspended temporarily on Tuesday but resumed after 3.30pm, albeit with a reduced operation. Passengers were advised to check before travel. With ferry services between Dover and Calais already suspended because of striking workers’ ongoing blockade of the northern French port, the suspension of trains through the tunnel caused further misery for people attempting to cross the Channel.
Eurotunnel tweeted: “Due to French port workers present on the French terminal tracks, our service is currently suspended. Please accept our apologises [sic].” A Eurotunnel spokesman estimated that 30 to 50 protesters had caused damage, describing the union’s actions as “deplorable”.
Eurostar said: “Channel tunnel access is currently suspended due to fire on the tracks in Calais caused by demonstrators. Further updates to follow shortly.” “They have been taken away by the police and we will be pressing charges against them for criminal and civil damage, and putting people’s live in danger from their actions,” he said.
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.” In Calais, a spokesman for the local council said: “We have registered break-in attempts by migrants this morning at the Eurotunnel site.”
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. Meanwhile, on the hottest day of the year, angry travellers were reduced to waiting in the sticky, crowded ticket hall at St Pancras in London for news.
Due to French Port workers present on the French Terminal tracks, our service is currently suspended. Please accept our apologises. ^SL Michael Jameson, a professional cellist, said he had an audition with the Lille orchestra scheduled for Wednesday morning and a session with a pianist on Tuesday, so the disruption could mean missing out on the chance of a lifetime.
Channel tunnel access is currently suspended due to fire on the tracks in Calais caused by demonstrators. Further updates to follow shortly. “It is a total shambles,” he said, hauling his cello red-faced through the crowds. “It’s just ridiculous it’s happened again. The ticket cost a fortune, they made me pay extra for my cello. Now they are seriously understaffed – the complete absence of information is ridiculous.”
Kent police said the port at Calais was expected to remain closed until Thursday. Jillian and James Masselos, on holiday from Australia, were keeping their two daughters, aged four and six, occupied with iPads. “It took us 35 hours to get to London because of delays, so I think we’re jinxed,” said Jillian Masselos, who is pregnant. “There should have been a plan in place for this that should have been put in place immediately. I asked a lady how long do these things usually take, and she just said: ‘Je ne sais pas.’”
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. Poor Michael Jameson, a cellist, is now going to miss a crucial orchestra audition. Still managing a smile. #Eurostar pic.twitter.com/iruXakpl5s
@BBCNews and the queues go on for mile after mile after this! #calais #eurotunnel pic.twitter.com/CKJ3Z6vsRN Jillian and James Masselos proving pro at keeping daughters occupied in a boiling st Pancras: headphones and iPads. pic.twitter.com/DfgnxtohVG
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.” It's hot, it's chaotic, there's a lot of disgruntled people in St Pancras. #Eurostar #Eurotunnel pic.twitter.com/nXEAKLvn21
Lorry drivers at the front of the queue were being given a ticket to continue their journey to the continent. The industrial action is expected to last until Thursday, and even before the tunnel closed there were chaotic scenes at both ends, with Kent police running Operation Stack, which involved the closure of the M20 coastbound between junctions 8 and 9, in a desperate attempt to avoid gridlock across the county’s road network.
The closure was expected to be extended to the London-bound carriageway between the same junctions later on Tuesday and Wednesday. Lorry drivers at the front of the queue are being allocated tickets allowing them to continue their journey to the continent, while non-freight traffic is diverted off the motorway. Junction 13 of the M20 was also closed on Tuesday in the direction of the port of Dover.
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. With the industrial action set to continue until Thursday, Helen Deeble, chief executive of P&O ferries, which has had to cancel all of its services to and from Calais, lambasted the French and British governments, warning that they were costing businesses millions.
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. @BBCNews and the queues go on for mile after mile after this! #calais #eurotunnel pic.twitter.com/CKJ3Z6vsRN
“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.”
A Eurotunnel spokesman said: “Eurotunnel deplores the actions of this union which have severely disrupted cross-channel traffic over the past week. Eurotunnel calls on the governments of both Britain and France to bring an end to this industrial action and to restore order in the Calais region.”
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. The French MyFerryLink workers are protesting plans by Eurotunnel to sell two of their cross-channel ferries to rival Danish firm DFDS and the consequent job losses that will result.