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Calais port strike strands ferry and rail passengers Eurostar suspended as strikers set fire to Calais track
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of cross-Channel passengers are stranded after striking Calais ferry workers closed the French port and blocked Eurotunnel rail services.Thousands of cross-Channel passengers are stranded after striking Calais ferry workers closed the French port and blocked Eurotunnel rail services.
The MyFerryLink workers walked out on Monday for the second time in a week over the sale of the company's ferries to rival firm DFDS Seaways.The MyFerryLink workers walked out on Monday for the second time in a week over the sale of the company's ferries to rival firm DFDS Seaways.
Both Eurostar and Shuttle services are suspended due to fire on the tracks.Both Eurostar and Shuttle services are suspended due to fire on the tracks.
Sailings between Dover and the French port are at a standstill, but services to Dunkirk are operating as normal.Sailings between Dover and the French port are at a standstill, but services to Dunkirk are operating as normal.
The boss of P&O Ferries said security at Calais had been "abandoned" leaving passengers "caught in the middle".The boss of P&O Ferries said security at Calais had been "abandoned" leaving passengers "caught in the middle".
Operation Stack, where lorries use part of the M20 to queue for Channel crossings, has been implemented coastbound between junctions eight and nine, for Maidstone and Ashford, as a result of the latest action.Operation Stack, where lorries use part of the M20 to queue for Channel crossings, has been implemented coastbound between junctions eight and nine, for Maidstone and Ashford, as a result of the latest action.
Non-freight traffic travelling to Dover has been urged to use the A2 and M2.Non-freight traffic travelling to Dover has been urged to use the A2 and M2.
Chris Childs from Hollingbourne in Kent said French strikers has caused major upheaval to the village next to the M20 for the second time in a week because of Operation Stack.
"Once again it feels like our village has been violated by French strikers," he said.
"We cannot get out of our village on to the A20 because of the traffic, likewise we cannot return easily."
Passengers hoping to travel to Calais by ferry have been urged to contact their ferry operators.Passengers hoping to travel to Calais by ferry have been urged to contact their ferry operators.
A strike which began on 23 June led to the suspension of Channel Tunnel services and saw hundreds of migrants try to board UK-bound lorries amid the chaos.A strike which began on 23 June led to the suspension of Channel Tunnel services and saw hundreds of migrants try to board UK-bound lorries amid the chaos.
The current strike action is expected to continue until Thursday, when DFDS officially takes over the MyFerryLink service.The current strike action is expected to continue until Thursday, when DFDS officially takes over the MyFerryLink service.
The French ferry workers went on strike after Eurotunnel, which owns the ships, sold the cross-Channel service after a competition authority ruling to DFDS.The French ferry workers went on strike after Eurotunnel, which owns the ships, sold the cross-Channel service after a competition authority ruling to DFDS.
Calais security 'abandoned'Calais security 'abandoned'
Helen Deeble, the chief executive of P&O Ferries, 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.Helen Deeble, the chief executive of P&O Ferries, 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.
"This has left thousands of holidaymakers and lorry drivers stranded without adequate facilities.""This has left thousands of holidaymakers and lorry drivers stranded without adequate facilities."
She said the company's staff had been "doing their best" to keep passengers supplied with food and water.She said the company's staff had been "doing their best" to keep passengers supplied with food and water.
"Let me be clear, the buck stops with the French government. They have effectively abandoned any attempt to maintain security at the port of Calais," Ms Deeble said."Let me be clear, the buck stops with the French government. They have effectively abandoned any attempt to maintain security at the port of Calais," Ms Deeble said.
"When is the British government going to stand up to ensure that we can all get to mainland Europe safely and securely?""When is the British government going to stand up to ensure that we can all get to mainland Europe safely and securely?"
She said the industrial action was putting thousands of jobs at risk.She said the industrial action was putting thousands of jobs at risk.
A Eurotunnel spokesman said the French authorities needed to bring the situation at Calais under control.A Eurotunnel spokesman said the French authorities needed to bring the situation at Calais under control.
"The real impact is on the British economy. We need to stop the strikes and get rid of migrants," he said."The real impact is on the British economy. We need to stop the strikes and get rid of migrants," he said.
On Monday, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin chaired a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra.On Monday, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin chaired a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said the disruption caused by the industrial action to cross-Channel travel was completely unacceptable.A spokesman for the Department for Transport said the disruption caused by the industrial action to cross-Channel travel was completely unacceptable.
"We are working closely with the French Government and we want to see services return to normal as soon as possible," he said."We are working closely with the French Government and we want to see services return to normal as soon as possible," he said.
"Passengers, on both sides of the Channel, intending to travel through either Dover or Calais should check with their chosen operator before they travel.""Passengers, on both sides of the Channel, intending to travel through either Dover or Calais should check with their chosen operator before they travel."
Last week's disruption lasted 36 hours and saw blockades at the French port and the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles.Last week's disruption lasted 36 hours and saw blockades at the French port and the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles.
Several Eurostar trains were also forced to return to St Pancras, while in France migrants sought to exploit the port strike by attempting to climb onboard UK-bound lorries caught in slow-moving traffic.Several Eurostar trains were also forced to return to St Pancras, while in France migrants sought to exploit the port strike by attempting to climb onboard UK-bound lorries caught in slow-moving traffic.
Are you in Calais? Are you striking? Are you a holidaymaker worried about your holiday? Are you a lorry driver concerned about your route? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences.Are you in Calais? Are you striking? Are you a holidaymaker worried about your holiday? Are you a lorry driver concerned about your route? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences.
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