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Broken down train leads to Eurotunnel chaos and high demand delays DFDS and Irish Ferries as Operation Brock on M20 continues
08:44, 04 April 2022
updated: 21:08, 04 April 2022
Passengers were stuck waiting to use Eurotunnel services for five hours after a train broke down.
The disruption in Folkestone comes as lorries continue to queue on the M20, A20 and Dover's roads.
Eurostar services, as well as freight and passenger Eurotunnel services, were waiting for approximately three hours, but this afternoon, despite the broken down train having been moved, that increased to five.
Passengers – many likely to be holidaymakers on Easter breaks – were still being asked to check-in as planned.
A spokesman said: "As a result of a technical issue with a freight shuttle overnight, Eurotunnel is currently operating a reduced service.
"We apologise to customers who may experience some delays during this incident and would like to assure everyone that we are working as fast as possible to remove the train from the tunnel and to restore normal service. We expect to have full services running again later in the day."
Services were running as normal again before 9pm.
There were also problems for ferry passengers today, with delays of up to one and a half hours on DFDS Seaways and Irish Ferries between Dover and Calais due to high demand.
It comes after the M20 finally reopened to traffic yesterday after two days of traffic havoc on Kent's roads but Operation Brock remains in place en route to Dover.
The 14-mile coastbound stretch between Maidstone and Ashford was shut on Friday, with hundreds of lorries stacked up on the road amid further delays on the ferries and Eurotunnel.
Over the weekend there continued to be long delays at the Port of Dover, with HGV drivers stuck in queues on the M20 due to Operation Brock.
This morning speed restrictions remain and all freight traffic heading for a channel crossing must go through the coned area on the M20 coastbound between J8 and J9.
All other traffic not heading for a channel crossing, or local East Kent freight, must use the contraflow on the other side.
The M20 coastbound entry slip road at J11 for the A20 at Hythe has been closed to help manage traffic heading towards Dover.
And Dover TAP is in force on the A20 from the Roundhill Tunnel to Dover.
The left-hand lane is used for lorries only.
There have been reports of heavier traffic than normal on the coastbound M2 at J7 for Faversham, as drivers avoid Operation Brock.
Meanwhile, holidaymakers looking to head abroad by plane have also faced disruption, with easyJet cancelling hundreds of flights over the weekend.
The company has blamed staff sickness.
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