Eurostar halts trains as inquiry launches
Updated on 21 December 2009
Thousands of Christmas holidaymakers are left stranded for a third day as the French government pursues an inquiry into the breakdown of Channel Tunnel services.
Eurostar, owned by the French and Belgian state railway firms and the UK, blamed bad weather for the problem that left some 2,500 trapped inside the Anglo-French tunnel for up to 16 hours over the weekend.
But the French government have now ordered a separate investigation into the problems after doubting that the cold was the sole reason for the problems.
"We can't believe that Eurostar trains can't run for three days because of snow, so there must be a technical problem," French Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau said on Monday during a visit to China with Prime Minister Francois Fillon.
Eurostar halted trains for a third day today to probe the weekend breakdown of services through the Channel Tunnel.
The company, which is also commissioning an independent review, has said that moving from the outside cold into the warmer tunnel caused condensation that affected electrical systems.
Snow shields have now been fitted to trains to protect them from any further electrical problems. Modifications are due to be tested and it is hoped passengers services can resume on tuesday.
Eurotunnel said its infrastructure was still working and its own shuttles through the tunnel, which run parallel to the Eurostar, were still operating.
A statement on Eurostar's website said:
We sincerely regret having to take this decision and we understand how frustrated and disappointed travellers will be, particularly those who have been waiting to travel for the last two days.
"We strongly advise passengers whose travel is non-essential to change their booking to a later date or claim a refund on their tickets.
"We have also announced our compensation policy for inconvenienced travellers. We will provide a further update regarding Tuesday's services by 6pm on Monday."
