Tunnel services to operate restricted timetable

Updated 15.47 Sun Sep 14 2008
Keywords: timetable, Calais, Britain, France, restricted, Channel Tunnel, fire, eurostar, eurotunnel

Train services through the Channel Tunnel will operate on a very restricted timetable next week.

Travellers have faced chaotic journeys between Britain and the Continent since last Thursday's fire in the tunnel under the English Channel.

"Our service is now operating a very restricted timetable. We recommend passengers avoid travelling unless their journey is absolutely essential" - A Eurostar spokesperson

The north tunnel remains shut while authorities investigate the blaze, although the unaffected south tunnel reopened yesterday allowing limited Eurostar and rail freight services to start.

A spokesperson for Eurostar said: "Our service is now operating a very restricted timetable. We recommend passengers avoid travelling unless their journey is absolutely essential.

"All travellers with non-essential journeys up to September 21 can get a refund or exchange their tickets for travel at a later date."

A limited service for cars travelling through the Channel Tunnel will start on Monday with shuttles running every two hours.

Thousands of holidaymakers were stranded after the 16-hour blaze, which started on a Folkestone to Calais train about seven miles from the French end.

Fire investigators are likely to examine the presence of a lorry carrying highly flammable carbolic acid, or phenol, which it is claimed overturned before the blast.

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