Track alert hits Channel Tunnel services

Channel Tunnel rail services were severely disrupted today after a problem arose following overnight engineering work.

High-speed train company Eurostar, which operates between London and Paris and Brussels, was unable to run any trains until 10.30am, while Eurotunnel's shuttle train services were also disrupted.

Eurostar had to cancel four services and other trains were being delayed for up to three hours.

Eurotunnel was able to run shuttles through one of the two working lines in the tunnel and was hoping that services would be back to normal by mid morning.

A Eurotunnel spokeswoman said: "We were conducting standard engineering work in the tunnel. At the end of the work, a freight shuttle train stopped in the tunnel which led us to investigate a possible track problem.

"The problem has now been resolved. We were able to operate on one of the lines and we have had to make changes to the timetable."

A Eurostar spokeswoman said: "We are trying to get people away on later trains and there will be a knock-on effect. It's a Monday morning so it's a busy time."

PA