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Eurostar and Southeastern almost back to normal

A Eurostar on test near the Channel Tunnel on Monday.
A Eurostar on test near the Channel Tunnel on Monday.

by Jo Sword and Katie Lamborn

Eurostar expects to run at almost full capacity on Thursday but the Anglo-French body which oversees Eurostar says the chaos last weekend showed up the company's poor information system.

Hundreds of passengers were trapped in the tunnel for hours when high-speed trains broke down after snow affected their electronics.

The Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission says Eurostar doesn't meet the information needs of passengers and must develop satisfactory solutions.

Today, Thursday, the company plans for 12 trains to leave Paris for London, although there could be some delays as they will run at less than full speed in places.

Southeastern says it is running a normal service today, and trains through Slade Green are getting back to normal after a signal problem.

Eurotunnel has cancelled day-trip bookings due to adverse weather conditions. Passengers are advised to call 08443 353535 for further information.

Stranded by Eurostar: Katie Dray and Martin Southam
Stranded by Eurostar: Katie Dray and Martin Southam

Meanwhile, a Canterbury couple, left stranded in France by the weekend cancellations, say babies were left waiting in queues in the snow and the lack of information almost led to fights at Calais.

Martin Southam and Katie Dray spent the weekend in Paris and were due to travel back to Ashford by Eurostar on Monday.

As a result of the chaos they decided to leave the French capital early to embark on their homeward journey.

Eurostar gave the couple a free rail tickets to Calais but the couple say that was where the company’s helpfulness ended.

Mr Southam said: "There were long delays at Lille, which was on the way to Calais, no information on the onward journey, there were delays when we got to Calais in terms of getting from the train station to the ferry port. Then when we were at Calais ferry port there were again more delays and a lack of information.

"All it needed was just people giving us information, we have heard that at different times it led to people almost coming to blows with each other."

Katie Dray says children and babies were left to wait in the snow while passengers queued at Calais for ferry tickets: “While we were waiting the queues were just getting bigger and bigger and bigger.

“Whilst we were waiting for two or three hours standing up waiting to get a ticket inside, people were doing the same thing out in the snow.

“It got to a point where a woman came past us, collared a guy who worked there and said you have got to come outside, there are young babies out in the snow, you have to got get them inside, it is too cold for them to be out there.”

Eurostar apologised for the problems and says it did advise all passengers that transport in France was subject to disruption due to the weather.

A spokesperson went onto say that staff were at their own stations and not the Channel ports.

Coaches and special flights were laid on to help get passengers to their destinations.

Passengers who have been affected should log onto www.eurostar.com for details of possible refunds.

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