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Channel trains resume after fire Channel trains resume after fire
(40 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 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.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.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.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. The Channel Tunnel carries Eurostar express trains between London, Paris and Brussels, as well as freight and passenger shuttles between Folkestone and Calais.
Since the journey was successful, Eurotunnel decided to start operating a limited shuttle and Eurostar service. Batches of four trains an hour are running in alternate directions through the undamaged south tunnel, while the north remains closed.
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.
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. Tunnel operator Eurotunnel said: "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."
Eurostar is operating a reduced timetable between London and Paris and London and Brussels.
There will, however, be a daily service each way between London and Disneyland Resort Paris.
Trains will also serve Ashford International, Ebbsfleet International and Lille.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. Eurostar urged ticket holders to turn up as normal and said it would try to put them on the first available train.
However Eurostar warned there will be longer journey times and waiting times. It warned there would be longer journey times and waiting times, but did not give any specific details around this.
It said passengers could apply for a full refund or exchange their ticket by returning to the place they bought from.
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.
Naomi Bunten, 55, a nurse from Birmingham, had been encouraged by her travel operator to turn up early in case alternative arrangements were put in place.
She was heading for Lake Garda in Italy on a trip with Treyn and Great Rail Journeys and on Saturday morning was informed there would be a 45 minute delay before she could travel.
She said she was packing when she first heard about the fire.
"It was very uncertain," she said.
"We booked the train journey because of the stress of airports and of course this has been so stressful but Treyn, the holiday company, were excellent."
Transport chaosTransport 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. 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.
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."
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French firefighters working inside the Channel TunnelFrench firefighters working inside the Channel Tunnel
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."
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 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.
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