This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/kent/6929713.stm

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
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 NewsThree 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.
"The normal safety procedure is that the best way of dealing with this is to pull the train out rather than getting people to walk along the lines," 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.
'Been misled'
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.
"It wasn't just one policeman - there were others directing people away."
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.
She said officers were not told of any reciprocal arrangement and apologised if there was any misunderstanding.