Burned section of train removed from Channel tunnel

The fire-damaged section of the freight train involved in the Eurotunnel blaze last month has finally been removed from the site.

Taken from the tunnel was the 130-metre length of the damaged shuttle, leaving an additional 800 metres to be removed at a later time, in stages.

The Eurotunnel fire started on the freight train, on 11 September, burning the heavy goods vehicles being carried on the train, and causing severe damage to the north tunnel.

The train’s locomotive and its club car, where the lorry driver was sitting when the fire broke out, have remained intact, however.

Before it was brought under control by fire fighters from both France and England, the fire burned for 16 hours, leaving thousands of passengers with no train service. Thirty-two people, including lorry drivers and staff on the freight service, were forced to flee the area. Six were taken to hospital and treated for complaints related to smoke inhalation.

One of the results of the fire damage to the north tunnel was that it was shut down, leading to numerous service cancellations and delays on those that were running, for the last few weeks. During this period, part of the north tunnel that had been shut down was re-opened with trains shunted over to the south tunnel.

Eurostar services through the Channel tunnel are now back to nearly full capacity, including trains connecting London and Brussels and London and Paris, with the number of trains increased from 17 to 210.

www.eurotunnel.com