21.01.15
Further power supply problems strike the Channel Tunnel
Eurotunnel and Eurostar are facing further troubles, as another power supply problem has struck the Channel Tunnel.
Single-line working is in operation with the aim of minimising the impact for customers, Eurostar said.
RTM previously reported the chaos that struck the tunnel over the weekend when a lorry travelling from the UK to France began smouldering and set off CO2 detectors. Firefighters from France were called in and services were cancelled for the rest of the day as the train remained in the tunnel for accident investigators to examine.
The following day, services operated through the south tunnel while the north tunnel was repaired. However a separate electrical fault forced the closure of the south tunnel for two hours causing massive delays and Eurostar to cancel 11 further services.
As Wednesday dawned, engineering work in the north tunnel was continuing from the weekend causing some disruption, however overnight an unrelated incident damaged the overhead power supply. As a result Eurostar cancelled four services and many others face delays.
A Eurotunnel spokesman said today: "As we were conducting the re-establishment of services early this morning, we encountered a power supply line issue.
"Our maintenance teams have gone out to inspect this. The tunnel is open but we are running a reduced service in the meantime."
Latest travel information on the Eurotunnel website says that they are only accepting prebooked passengers and there is a waiting time of approximately three hours at the terminal.
A massive queue of lorries has backed up at the terminal and phase two of Operation Stack to queue lorries on the M20 southbound has been implemented.
(Image source: Oxyman)
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