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Delays after Channel Tunnel fault | Delays after Channel Tunnel fault |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A fault which trapped passengers on a train inside the Channel Tunnel and caused delays of up to six hours for freight and passengers has been fixed. | A fault which trapped passengers on a train inside the Channel Tunnel and caused delays of up to six hours for freight and passengers has been fixed. |
Eurotunnel said the service was now up and running and extra trains had been added to cope with the backlog. | Eurotunnel said the service was now up and running and extra trains had been added to cope with the backlog. |
But passengers heading for France would continue to face delays to journeys until at least midnight on Friday. | But passengers heading for France would continue to face delays to journeys until at least midnight on Friday. |
The electrical fault in an overhead gantry trapped a train with 130 cars on board near the French side at 1030 BST. | The electrical fault in an overhead gantry trapped a train with 130 cars on board near the French side at 1030 BST. |
Three babies were very poorly and they had to get a doctor on board Emma Collins Six hours trapped on train Latest BBC Travel News | Three babies were very poorly and they had to get a doctor on board Emma Collins Six hours trapped on train Latest BBC Travel News |
Cars were on the Eurotunnel train for up to six hours, four of them inside the tunnel, after the power cut. | Cars were on the Eurotunnel train for up to six hours, four of them inside the tunnel, after the power cut. |
Emma Collins, who was stranded in her car with her three small children, said: "It started getting very, very, hot. | Emma Collins, who was stranded in her car with her three small children, said: "It started getting very, very, hot. |
"Some of the double-stacked vehicles, they didn't fare so well and it got very, very hot. | "Some of the double-stacked vehicles, they didn't fare so well and it got very, very hot. |
"Three babies, I understand, were very poorly and they had to get a doctor on board to see to them." | "Three babies, I understand, were very poorly and they had to get a doctor on board to see to them." |
'A bit eerie' | 'A bit eerie' |
Eurotunnel said a few hundred passengers would have been on the carriages. | Eurotunnel said a few hundred passengers would have been on the carriages. |
A spokesman said the power cut affected only a small part of the tunnel and services continued throughout the day but at a reduced level. | A spokesman said the power cut affected only a small part of the tunnel and services continued throughout the day but at a reduced level. |
"It would have been a bit eerie down there and reasonably hot," he said. | "It would have been a bit eerie down there and reasonably hot," he said. |
Trains were expected to be running normally on Saturday morning. | |
John Keefe, from Eurotunnel, said on Friday: "Both the tunnels are now fully operational and we are steadily increasing the number of departures per hour. | |
"We will be back in completely normal operations with all the trains back on to time by tomorrow morning" | |
'Been misled' | |
Kent Police enacted phase one of Operation Stack to cope with the delayed traffic, closing the coastbound M20 between junctions 11 and 12, for Hythe and Cheriton. | Kent Police enacted phase one of Operation Stack to cope with the delayed traffic, closing the coastbound M20 between junctions 11 and 12, for Hythe and Cheriton. |
Drivers were warned to avoid the Folkestone area and anyone without a pre-booked ticket told not travel to the tunnel. | Drivers were warned to avoid the Folkestone area and anyone without a pre-booked ticket told not travel to the tunnel. |
But some drivers complained that police had directed them to Dover, telling them the ferry companies would honour tickets. | But some drivers complained that police had directed them to Dover, telling them the ferry companies would honour tickets. |
Alan Hawkes from Cambridgeshire said that when they got there they were told this was not the case and had to turn back. | Alan Hawkes from Cambridgeshire said that when they got there they were told this was not the case and had to turn back. |
"We have just been misled all the way down the line and I am very angry with the police," he said. | "We have just been misled all the way down the line and I am very angry with the police," he said. |
A spokeswoman for Kent Police and they said they were not aware of officers directing traffic to Dover. | A spokeswoman for Kent Police and they said they were not aware of officers directing traffic to Dover. |