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 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Channel tunnel reopens after fire set by French strikers but travel chaos goes on | Channel tunnel reopens after fire set by French strikers but travel chaos goes on |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Eurostar and Eurotunnel services were 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. | |
| A Eurotunnel spokesman estimated that 30-50 protesters had caused damage, describing the union’s actions as “deplorable”. “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. | |
| In Calais, a spokesman for the local council said: “We have registered break-in attempts by migrants this morning at the Eurotunnel site.” | In Calais, a spokesman for the local council said: “We have registered break-in attempts by migrants this morning at the Eurotunnel site.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| “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.” | “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.” |
| 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.’” | 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.’” |
| Poor Michael Jameson, a cellist, is now going to miss a crucial orchestra audition. Still managing a smile. #Eurostar pic.twitter.com/iruXakpl5s | Poor Michael Jameson, a cellist, is now going to miss a crucial orchestra audition. Still managing a smile. #Eurostar pic.twitter.com/iruXakpl5s |
| Jillian and James Masselos proving pro at keeping daughters occupied in a boiling st Pancras: headphones and iPads. pic.twitter.com/DfgnxtohVG | Jillian and James Masselos proving pro at keeping daughters occupied in a boiling st Pancras: headphones and iPads. pic.twitter.com/DfgnxtohVG |
| It's hot, it's chaotic, there's a lot of disgruntled people in St Pancras. #Eurostar #Eurotunnel pic.twitter.com/nXEAKLvn21 | It's hot, it's chaotic, there's a lot of disgruntled people in St Pancras. #Eurostar #Eurotunnel pic.twitter.com/nXEAKLvn21 |
| 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| @BBCNews and the queues go on for mile after mile after this! #calais #eurotunnel pic.twitter.com/CKJ3Z6vsRN | @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.” | 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 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. | 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. |