English channel rail services to be disrupted for weeks
Ferry Online Travel News 15/09/2008
Due to the Channel tunnel fire last week, Eurostar services will run on a limited schedule for weeks, officials say.
One of two English channel tunnels remains closed as authorities from the French side continue investigations and further inspect the damage caused by Thursday’s blaze.
The south Channel tunnel was not involved in the fire, and has since re-opened, making it possible for Eurostar to operate some limited passenger service and for limited freight service to resume.
In both England and France, thousands of travellers have been stranded, starting with the fire on Thursday, which burned for more than 16 hours, and closed all tunnel services between the two countries.
Many were relieved to hear the Eurostar services would begin on a limited timetable on Saturday.
At St Pancras station in London, the information boards carried the following message: “Eurostar is operating a temporary timetable and expects to run 12 trains each way between London and Paris, six trains each way between London and Brussels and the daily service each way between London and Disneyland Resort Paris.”
Eurostar has asked it customers to avoid unnecessary travel, as services would be limited for several weeks, and subject to disruptions.
A Eurostar spokesperson, Lesley Ritallack, commented: “They can either book later or obtain a refund. We are having the people from Thursday and Friday and with a reduced service we still have a lot of people wanting to travel.”
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