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Eurostar suspended as strikers set fire to Calais track | Eurostar suspended as strikers set fire to Calais track |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Thousands of cross-Channel passengers are stranded after striking Calais ferry workers closed the French port and blocked Eurotunnel rail services. | Thousands of cross-Channel passengers are stranded after striking Calais ferry workers closed the French port and blocked Eurotunnel rail services. |
The MyFerryLink workers walked out on Monday for the second time in a week over the sale of the company's ferries to rival firm DFDS Seaways. | The MyFerryLink workers walked out on Monday for the second time in a week over the sale of the company's ferries to rival firm DFDS Seaways. |
Both Eurostar and Shuttle services were suspended due to fire on the tracks. | Both Eurostar and Shuttle services were suspended due to fire on the tracks. |
The tunnel reopened at 15:30 BST and Eurostar said "some services will run this afternoon". | The tunnel reopened at 15:30 BST and Eurostar said "some services will run this afternoon". |
However, Shuttle services are running with a three-hour waiting time at the Folkestone terminal. | |
Sailings between Dover and the French port are at a standstill. Services to Dunkirk, however, are operating as normal. | Sailings between Dover and the French port are at a standstill. Services to Dunkirk, however, are operating as normal. |
P&O Ferries said security at Calais had been "abandoned" leaving passengers "caught in the middle". | |
The Port of Dover said there was no known end date for the industrial action. | |
Operation Stack, where lorries use part of the M20 to queue for Channel crossings, has been implemented coastbound between junctions eight and nine, for Maidstone and Ashford, as a result of the latest action. | Operation Stack, where lorries use part of the M20 to queue for Channel crossings, has been implemented coastbound between junctions eight and nine, for Maidstone and Ashford, as a result of the latest action. |
It has also been implemented on the London-bound carriageway. | |
Non-freight traffic travelling to Dover has been urged to use the A2 and M2. | Non-freight traffic travelling to Dover has been urged to use the A2 and M2. |
Chris Childs from Hollingbourne in Kent said French strikers has caused major upheaval to the village next to the M20 for the second time in a week because of Operation Stack. | Chris Childs from Hollingbourne in Kent said French strikers has caused major upheaval to the village next to the M20 for the second time in a week because of Operation Stack. |
"Once again it feels like our village has been violated by French strikers," he said. | "Once again it feels like our village has been violated by French strikers," he said. |
"We cannot get out of our village on to the A20 because of the traffic, likewise we cannot return easily." | "We cannot get out of our village on to the A20 because of the traffic, likewise we cannot return easily." |
Passengers hoping to travel to Calais by ferry have been urged to contact their ferry operators. | Passengers hoping to travel to Calais by ferry have been urged to contact their ferry operators. |
A strike which began on 23 June led to the suspension of Channel Tunnel services and saw hundreds of migrants try to board UK-bound lorries amid the chaos. | A strike which began on 23 June led to the suspension of Channel Tunnel services and saw hundreds of migrants try to board UK-bound lorries amid the chaos. |
DFDS officially takes over the MyFerryLink service on Thursday. | |
The French ferry workers went on strike after Eurotunnel, which owns the ships, sold the cross-Channel service after a competition authority ruling to DFDS. | The French ferry workers went on strike after Eurotunnel, which owns the ships, sold the cross-Channel service after a competition authority ruling to DFDS. |
Calais security 'abandoned' | Calais security 'abandoned' |
Helen Deeble, the chief executive of P&O Ferries, said: "Through no fault of their own, our passengers are caught in the middle of an industrial relations battle that has been caused by Eurotunnel. | Helen Deeble, the chief executive of P&O Ferries, said: "Through no fault of their own, our passengers are caught in the middle of an industrial relations battle that has been caused by Eurotunnel. |
"This has left thousands of holidaymakers and lorry drivers stranded without adequate facilities." | "This has left thousands of holidaymakers and lorry drivers stranded without adequate facilities." |
She said the company's staff had been "doing their best" to keep passengers supplied with food and water. | She said the company's staff had been "doing their best" to keep passengers supplied with food and water. |
"Let me be clear, the buck stops with the French government. They have effectively abandoned any attempt to maintain security at the port of Calais," Ms Deeble said. | "Let me be clear, the buck stops with the French government. They have effectively abandoned any attempt to maintain security at the port of Calais," Ms Deeble said. |
"When is the British government going to stand up to ensure that we can all get to mainland Europe safely and securely?" | "When is the British government going to stand up to ensure that we can all get to mainland Europe safely and securely?" |
She said the industrial action was putting thousands of jobs at risk. | She said the industrial action was putting thousands of jobs at risk. |
A Eurotunnel spokesman said the French authorities needed to bring the situation at Calais under control. | A Eurotunnel spokesman said the French authorities needed to bring the situation at Calais under control. |
"The real impact is on the British economy. We need to stop the strikes and get rid of migrants," he said. | "The real impact is on the British economy. We need to stop the strikes and get rid of migrants," he said. |
On Monday, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin chaired a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra. | On Monday, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin chaired a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra. |
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said the disruption caused by the industrial action to cross-Channel travel was completely unacceptable. | A spokesman for the Department for Transport said the disruption caused by the industrial action to cross-Channel travel was completely unacceptable. |
"We are working closely with the French Government and we want to see services return to normal as soon as possible," he said. | "We are working closely with the French Government and we want to see services return to normal as soon as possible," he said. |
"Passengers, on both sides of the Channel, intending to travel through either Dover or Calais should check with their chosen operator before they travel." | "Passengers, on both sides of the Channel, intending to travel through either Dover or Calais should check with their chosen operator before they travel." |
Last week's disruption lasted 36 hours and saw blockades at the French port and the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles. | Last week's disruption lasted 36 hours and saw blockades at the French port and the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles. |
Several Eurostar trains were also forced to return to St Pancras, while in France migrants sought to exploit the port strike by attempting to climb onboard UK-bound lorries caught in slow-moving traffic. | Several Eurostar trains were also forced to return to St Pancras, while in France migrants sought to exploit the port strike by attempting to climb onboard UK-bound lorries caught in slow-moving traffic. |
Are you in Calais? Are you striking? Are you a holidaymaker worried about your holiday? Are you a lorry driver concerned about your route? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Are you in Calais? Are you striking? Are you a holidaymaker worried about your holiday? Are you a lorry driver concerned about your route? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
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