Yahoo Finance Channel Tunnel Closed Because Of Strike Action
The Channel Tunnel has been reopened after being closed earlier as a result of action by striking French ferry workers for the second time in a week.
Both Eurostar and Shuttle (Taiwan: 2405.TW - news) services were halted because of fire on the tracks at Calais caused by demonstrators.
But Eurotunnel said that the track had been cleared to allow the suspension to be lifted, but with a reduced service.
Eurostar said: "We will now be running a reduced service, with the first train departing at 15.31."
It comes as thousands face delays to their travel caused by the closure of the Port of Calais, which is likely to remain shut until Thursday.
Industrial action caused widespread travel chaos on both sides of the Channel last week following wildcat action by employees worried about their jobs.
Large numbers of migrants took advantage of the queues that built up on the French side to attempt to get into UK-bound cars and lorries caught up in queues near Calais.
The UK government described the situation as "completely unacceptable".
Eurostar, which runs train from London's St Pancras to cities in France and Belgium, issued a service update saying: "Eurotunnel (Paris: FR0010533075 - news) has been closed following a fire caused by MyFerryLink demonstrators outside the tunnel.
"Delays to Eurostar services are likely, more information to follow."
A Eurotunnel spokesman said: "Services through the Channel Tunnel are currently suspended until further notice due to action by the Maritime Nord union who are also blockading the port of Calais.
"Eurotunnel deplores the actions of this union which have severely disrupted cross channel traffic over the past week. Eurotunnel calls on the governments of both Britain and France to bring an end to this industrial action and to restore order in the Calais region."
It is understood that protesters broke in to the Eurotunnel site by cutting their way through fences and blocked the track with burning tyres at around 12.45am.
A statement by the UK said the British and French governments were working together to return services to normal as soon as possible.
It said: "Passengers on both sides of the Channel intending to travel through either Dover or Calais should check with their chosen operator before they travel.
"Operation Stack is in operation on the M20 and road users are advised to follow the signs in order to minimise disruption."
Ferry services to and from the Port of Dover in Kent have been hit by the strike, which started at the northern French port at 2.20pm on Monday.
A Port of Dover spokesman said DFDS Seaways services were still running to Dunkirk as normal.
A spokesman for Kent police said: "It is anticipated that due to industrial action in France the port in Calais is set to remain closed until Thursday."
