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| Channel trains resume after fire | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Passenger trains have begun running through the Channel Tunnel again following the fire which closed it. | |
| A freight train from England was the first to pass through just before midnight on Friday and was followed by an empty shuttle train an hour later. | |
| Since the journey was successful, Eurotunnel decided to start operating a limited shuttle and Eurostar service. | |
| Truck shuttles are able to pass through but it is not yet known when a service transporting cars will resume. | |
| Batches of four trains an hour are running in alternate directions through the undamaged south tunnel. | |
| Eurotunnel also revealed it had run two test trains through the south tunnel from Calais to Folkestone on Friday and two more in the opposite direction. | Eurotunnel also revealed it had run two test trains through the south tunnel from Calais to Folkestone on Friday and two more in the opposite direction. |
| name="goback"> class="bodl" href="#map">See layout of Channel Tunnel | |
| A Eurotunnel spokesman said: "Having carried out a comprehensive technical inspection of the infrastructure in the south rail tunnel, and having sent empty test shuttles through, Eurotunnel announces that Channel Tunnel traffic resumes." | |
| "We are giving priority to the truck shuttles and Eurostar passengers. At the moment we don't know when the car shuttles will start again." | "We are giving priority to the truck shuttles and Eurostar passengers. At the moment we don't know when the car shuttles will start again." |
| Speaking on French television, Eurotunnel chief executive Jacques Gounon said inspections of the tunnel were "now completed". | Speaking on French television, Eurotunnel chief executive Jacques Gounon said inspections of the tunnel were "now completed". |
| He said: "Installations in the south tunnel, which was not touched by fire, are in excellent condition." | He said: "Installations in the south tunnel, which was not touched by fire, are in excellent condition." |
| 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. |
| 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 tunnel carries Eurostar express trains between London, Paris and Brussels, as well as freight and passenger shuttles between Folkestone and Calais. | The tunnel carries Eurostar express trains between London, Paris and Brussels, as well as freight and passenger shuttles between Folkestone and Calais. |
| Transport chaos | Transport chaos |
| 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. |
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| French firefighters working inside the Channel Tunnel | French firefighters working inside the Channel Tunnel |
| 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, and that the M20 is still closed between junctions eight and nine. | Kent Police say that the arrangements are still in force, and that the M20 is still closed between junctions eight and nine. |
| 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: |
| You can send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions | You can send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions |
| 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. |