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| Full Tunnel reopening in February | Full Tunnel reopening in February |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Channel Tunnel will reopen completely in mid-February following last month's fire, operator Eurotunnel has confirmed. | The Channel Tunnel will reopen completely in mid-February following last month's fire, operator Eurotunnel has confirmed. |
| The total cost of the restoration work will come in at under £50m, it added. | The total cost of the restoration work will come in at under £50m, it added. |
| Services are now almost back to normal after initially being severely disrupted for several weeks. | Services are now almost back to normal after initially being severely disrupted for several weeks. |
| The fire, which broke out on a freight train on 11 September, injured 14 people and closed the tunnel between the UK and France for almost two days. | The fire, which broke out on a freight train on 11 September, injured 14 people and closed the tunnel between the UK and France for almost two days. |
| A full report on the incident in the north tunnel is expected from the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority by September 2009. | A full report on the incident in the north tunnel is expected from the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority by September 2009. |
| Speedy works | Speedy works |
| Chairman and chief executive of Groupe Eurotunnel, Jacques Gounon, said "The goal is to regain full operations in the north tunnel by mid February to re-establish the best quality of service for our many customers". | |
| Eurotunnel said the total budget for the restoration of the tunnel was expected to be "less than 60 million euros" (£46.8m). | Eurotunnel said the total budget for the restoration of the tunnel was expected to be "less than 60 million euros" (£46.8m). |
| It added that it had approved contracts for the work to renovate the damaged section of tunnel and that a number of companies would be involved. | It added that it had approved contracts for the work to renovate the damaged section of tunnel and that a number of companies would be involved. |
| Mr Gounon said: "Eurotunnel has retained a group of companies who all have an excellent knowledge of the Channel Tunnel and whose recognised skills can guarantee the safety and speed of the works." | Mr Gounon said: "Eurotunnel has retained a group of companies who all have an excellent knowledge of the Channel Tunnel and whose recognised skills can guarantee the safety and speed of the works." |
| Transport Minister Lord Adonis said earlier this week that a full report on the fire from the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority would be produced by September 2009 at the latest. | Transport Minister Lord Adonis said earlier this week that a full report on the fire from the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority would be produced by September 2009 at the latest. |
| In last month's fire, a total of 32 people were led to safety after a lorry on board a shuttle train caught alight about seven miles from Calais. | In last month's fire, a total of 32 people were led to safety after a lorry on board a shuttle train caught alight about seven miles from Calais. |
| Eurotunnel said last week it lost 21m euros (£16.4m) as a result of the fire. | Eurotunnel said last week it lost 21m euros (£16.4m) as a result of the fire. |
| Sales rise | Sales rise |
| Despite disruption caused by the fire, train company Eurostar recorded a 6.4% rise in passengers from July to September compared with the same period last year. | Despite disruption caused by the fire, train company Eurostar recorded a 6.4% rise in passengers from July to September compared with the same period last year. |
| The trains carried 2.37m passengers in the three-month period, with ticket sales of £152.3m. | The trains carried 2.37m passengers in the three-month period, with ticket sales of £152.3m. |
| Eurostar chief executive Richard Brown said: "Our growth in the third quarter is particularly encouraging given the incident in the Channel Tunnel and that the comparative three-month period in 2007 was boosted by the Rugby World Cup." | Eurostar chief executive Richard Brown said: "Our growth in the third quarter is particularly encouraging given the incident in the Channel Tunnel and that the comparative three-month period in 2007 was boosted by the Rugby World Cup." |
| He added: "Our staff have done an amazing job to restore 93% of capacity within a very short time and this has enabled travellers to carry on booking with confidence." | He added: "Our staff have done an amazing job to restore 93% of capacity within a very short time and this has enabled travellers to carry on booking with confidence." |
| Since the beginning of the year, seven million passengers have travelled on Eurostar services, with ticket sales generating £521.1m for the company. | Since the beginning of the year, seven million passengers have travelled on Eurostar services, with ticket sales generating £521.1m for the company. |