Eurostar suspended: Lorry fire in Channel Tunnel causes train cancellations for rest of day
Eurostar trains have been suspended “until further notice” because of a lorry fire on the French side of the Channel Tunnel.
Passengers planning to travel on the Eurostar today have been advised to postpone their journeys and told not to head to the station as no services will be running for the rest of the day.
Eurostar trains that were already on route were forced to return to their original stations after two smoke alarms were triggered on Saturday morning. Both passenger and freight trains were suspended just after 11.25pm.
SERVICE UPDATE – All trains are returning to original stations as Tunnel closed until further notice following smoke detection.
— Eurostar (@Eurostar) January 17, 2015
The lorry fire in the north tunnel is being handled by French authorities, with no reported injuries, say Kent Police.
The service, which carries 56,000 passengers a day on average between Britain and the continent, said it would post further updates on its website this evening.
SERVICE UPDATE – No further services will be running today, more info will be updated this evening on http://t.co/deI6LKR0uH.
— Eurostar (@Eurostar) January 17, 2015
Update: Eurotunnel's Le Shuttle, the service which carries vehicles from Folkstone to Calais, has said it anticipates having trains running on Saturday evening.
A Tunnel inspection is currently underway and we anticipate that we will be resuming services this evening. Further info to follow ^LD
— LeShuttle (@LeShuttle) January 17, 2015
Eurostar has suspended ticket sales for Sunday in order to accommodate delayed travellers. The train company offered passengers on non-urgent travel a refund or re-booking within 60 days for travel within the next six months. Eurostar is also offering hotel and food expenses to stranded customers.