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| Version 14 | Version 15 |
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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 in one of two tunnels that normally carry traffic. The other remains closed while the French authorities investigate. | |
| Car shuttle services have resumed, with Eurotunnel giving priority to lorry shuttles and Eurostar. | |
| The fire broke out on a freight 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 said 12 trains were 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 had bought weekend tickets but had chosen not to travel because of the fire could apply for a full refund or exchange their ticket by returning to the place from which it was bought. | |
| It was at that moment that we panicked the most, we imagined ourselves trapped there - we really were very lucky Patrick Lejein, lorry driver | |
| 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 also bought ferry tickets in case she and boyfriend Adam Cox could not get on their 1500 BST train to Paris. | |
| 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." |
| 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. |
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| 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. |
| Some of the lorry drivers involved in the incident have told how they escaped from an amenity car close to the fire. | |
| Patrick Lejein, 50, from Bruges, Belgium, said: "We were all sitting in the club car at the front of the train when we heard two loud bangs, like explosions, and suddenly thick smoke swept through the carriage. Everything was exploding around us." | |
| He said they were unable to open the door of their carriage: "One of the men on board - I think he was English - found a hammer fromsomewhere and were able to smash one of the windows and climb out." | |
| "We escaped from the train through this window. It was at that moment that we panicked the most. We imagined ourselves trapped there. We really were very lucky." | |
| British driver Leslie Boon, from Bridgend, south Wales, told ITN news that he thought "it was the end" and might not see his wife and three daughters again. | |
| "It was just hell dealing with fire. Everyone started jumping uppanicking and... then the wrong door opened. | |
| "Someone opened the left hand door and I was pushed out of the wrong door and I ended up on the tracks. | |
| "It was hot, very hot. I could not see nothing... I thought it was the end butI came to an exit." | |
| He said he ran for about 1km (0.6 miles) up the main tunnel before he was intercepted by the emergency services. | |
| Traffic situation | |
| 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. |
| French authorities are responsible for carrying out the investigation into the fire, although Kent Fire And Rescue Service said it would be supporting the inquiry. | |
| The tunnel 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 were still in force on Saturday morning, and that the M20 was still closed between junctions eight and nine. | Kent Police say that the arrangements were still in force on Saturday morning, and that the M20 was still closed between junctions eight and nine. |
| I found out Eurostar had chartered a plane back to Stansted Airport and I was fortunate enough to get on it. Andrew Fawcett-Wolf, Eurostar passenger | I found out Eurostar had chartered a plane back to Stansted Airport and I was fortunate enough to get on it. Andrew Fawcett-Wolf, Eurostar passenger |
| 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. | 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. | 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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