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| Channel trains resume after fire | Channel trains resume after fire |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Channel Tunnel has reopened to trains after a 16-hour fire, with some lorry shuttles and a reduced Eurostar passenger service operating. | |
| The first Eurostar train to run on the Britain-France rail link since the blaze left London's St Pancras station just before 0700 BST. | |
| One of the two tunnels is open. It is not known when the car shuttle service will resume. | |
| The fire broke out on a train seven miles from France on Thursday. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Batches of four trains an hour are running in alternate directions through the undamaged south tunnel. |
| Eurostar is also currently operating a reduced timetable between London and Paris and London and Brussels. | |
| See layout of Channel Tunnel | See layout of Channel Tunnel |
| There will, however, be daily service each way between London and Disneyland Resort Paris. | |
| Trains will also serve Ashford International, Ebbsfleet International and Lille. | |
| A statement issued by the company urged ticket holders to turn up as normal and it would try and put them on the first train which is available. | |
| However Eurostar warned there will be longer journey times and waiting times. | |
| Transport chaos | |
| 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. | |
| 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." | 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." |
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| French firefighters working inside the Channel Tunnel | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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: |
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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. |