Eurotunnel reopens with limited transport services

On Saturday, limited rail service in the Channel tunnel linking England and the European continent was restored, after a huge fire had closed the tunnel on Thursday afternoon, leaving thousands of passengers and many vehicles stranded on both sides of the English Channel.

The closing still threatens to cause transport delays and disruptions that could last for several weeks, and new concerns have arisen regarding the adequacy of safety measures in this important transport link that sees tens of thousands of passengers, including tourists, business travellers and truckers as well – on a daily basis.

Early reports that came in on Thursday afternoon after the fire erupted indicated that the tunnel damage did not seem to be significant. By early Friday, however, fire fighters had spent the night trying to extinguish a fire that had reached temperatures of 1,000 degrees Celsius, and the extent of the damage became more evident.

“Because it’s a tunnel, it works like an oven,” said a Eurotunnel spokesperson, Mady Chabrier. Eurotunnel is the Channel tunnel operator. “I guess the concrete has suffered and the iron inside of the tunnel, and we have to check now what the situation is.”

Six people sustained injuries and were taken to a Calais hospital, where it was determined that they were suffering from smoke inhalation. Although there were no serious injuries reported, one truck driver said to the French media that he and many others were lucky to have escaped serious harm.

www.eurotunnel.com