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| Version 12 | Version 13 |
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| Channel trains resume after fire | Channel trains resume after fire |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Channel Tunnel has reopened to trains after Thursday's fire, with some lorry shuttles and a reduced Eurostar passenger service operating. | The Channel Tunnel has reopened to trains after Thursday's fire, with some lorry shuttles and a reduced Eurostar passenger service operating. |
| Trains are running only in one of two tunnels that normally carry traffic. The other remains closed. | Trains are running only in one of two tunnels that normally carry traffic. The other remains closed. |
| It is not known when the car shuttle service will resume, with tunnel operator Eurotunnel giving priority to lorry shuttles and Eurostar. | It is not known when the car shuttle service will resume, with tunnel operator Eurotunnel giving priority to lorry shuttles and Eurostar. |
| The fire broke out on a train seven miles from France on Thursday. | The fire broke out on a train seven miles from France on Thursday. |
| The Channel Tunnel carries Eurostar express trains between London, Paris and Brussels, and freight and passenger shuttles between Folkestone and Calais. | The Channel Tunnel carries Eurostar express trains between London, Paris and Brussels, and freight and passenger shuttles between Folkestone and Calais. |
| See layout of Channel Tunnel | See layout of Channel Tunnel |
| Eurostar says 12 trains are expected to run on Saturday in each direction between Paris and London, and up to six trains in each direction between Brussels and London. | Eurostar says 12 trains are expected to run on Saturday in each direction between Paris and London, and up to six trains in each direction between Brussels and London. |
| This represents about half the normal traffic. | This represents about half the normal traffic. |
| A daily train service to and from Disneyland Paris is also in operation. | A daily train service to and from Disneyland Paris is also in operation. |
| Eurostar said travel times and waiting times would be longer than normal, but urged ticket holders to turn up as normal and said it would try to put them on the first available train. | Eurostar said travel times and waiting times would be longer than normal, but urged ticket holders to turn up as normal and said it would try to put them on the first available train. |
| It said passengers who choose not to travel because of the fire, could apply for a full refund or exchange their ticket by returning to the place they it bought from. | It said passengers who choose not to travel because of the fire, could apply for a full refund or exchange their ticket by returning to the place they it bought from. |
| Alternative arrangements | Alternative arrangements |
| Passengers at St Pancras International said they were relieved services were running again, and there were calm scenes at the departures terminal with few queues. | Passengers at St Pancras International said they were relieved services were running again, and there were calm scenes at the departures terminal with few queues. |
| Gilly Mitchell, a nanny living in London, had made back-up plans in case she and boyfriend Adam Cox could not get on their 1500 BST train to Paris. | Gilly Mitchell, a nanny living in London, had made back-up plans in case she and boyfriend Adam Cox could not get on their 1500 BST train to Paris. |
| The couple, both 23, visited St Pancras station on Saturday morning hours before their train was expected to leave to find out what was going on. | The couple, both 23, visited St Pancras station on Saturday morning hours before their train was expected to leave to find out what was going on. |
| They said they had already bought ferry tickets so they could make it to Paris the actual day they wanted to. | They said they had already bought ferry tickets so they could make it to Paris the actual day they wanted to. |
| Miss Mitchell said: "The information board is a bit misleading because it says to come at your scheduled time, but it seems to be first come first served." | Miss Mitchell said: "The information board is a bit misleading because it says to come at your scheduled time, but it seems to be first come first served." |
| Her boyfriend said they had been told there was a possibility they may even be placed on an earlier train than they had originally booked. | Her boyfriend said they had been told there was a possibility they may even be placed on an earlier train than they had originally booked. |
| Transport chaos | Transport chaos |
| The tunnel was closed after fire broke out on a freight train about seven miles from Calais on Thursday. The 16-hour blaze was put out on Friday morning. | The tunnel was closed after fire broke out on a freight train about seven miles from Calais on Thursday. The 16-hour blaze was put out on Friday morning. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| French firefighters working inside the Channel Tunnel | French firefighters working inside the Channel Tunnel |
| Thirty-two people on board were led to safety when the fire broke out. Fourteen had suffered minor injuries, including smoke inhalation. | Thirty-two people on board were led to safety when the fire broke out. Fourteen had suffered minor injuries, including smoke inhalation. |
| The source of the blaze has not yet been identified but French officials say a lorry carrying chemicals, which is understood to have overturned on the freight train, was close to the seat of the fire. | The source of the blaze has not yet been identified but French officials say a lorry carrying chemicals, which is understood to have overturned on the freight train, was close to the seat of the fire. |
| It was carrying the chemical phenol, a toxic product used by the pharmaceutical industry. | It was carrying the chemical phenol, a toxic product used by the pharmaceutical industry. |
| Traffic situation | |
| The closure caused tailbacks on roads near the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone as dozens of lorries were forced to park on the M20 and other surrounding roads. | The closure caused tailbacks on roads near the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone as dozens of lorries were forced to park on the M20 and other surrounding roads. |
| Kent Police say that the arrangements are still in force on Saturday morning, and that the M20 is still closed between junctions eight and nine. | Kent Police say that the arrangements are still in force on Saturday morning, and that the M20 is still closed between junctions eight and nine. |
| P&O Ferries have laid on extra services, but is advising passengers to re-book rather than just turning up at either Dover or Calais. | |
| Motorists are still being advised to avoid the Dover area unless necessary although the slip road at junction 11a, leading to the tunnel, has reopened. | |
| The Channel Tunnel has suffered several incidents since it opened to traffic in 1994 although only one - a fire in 1996 - caused serious injuries. | The Channel Tunnel has suffered several incidents since it opened to traffic in 1994 although only one - a fire in 1996 - caused serious injuries. |
| The fire caused £200m worth of damage and burned for more than five hours, wrecking the concrete lining and facilities over about half a mile of tunnel. | The fire caused £200m worth of damage and burned for more than five hours, wrecking the concrete lining and facilities over about half a mile of tunnel. |
| In August 2006, 34 people had to be led to safety after a fire broke out on a lorry being carried on a freight train. | In August 2006, 34 people had to be led to safety after a fire broke out on a lorry being carried on a freight train. |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| Have you been affected by this incident? Are you a lorry driver waiting to travel through the tunnel? Have you been able to make alternative arrangements to get home? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: | Have you been affected by this incident? Are you a lorry driver waiting to travel through the tunnel? Have you been able to make alternative arrangements to get home? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: |
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| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |