Holidaymakers still face THREE HOUR wait at Channel Tunnel terminal in traffic backlog after some were faced to spend the night in their cars because of damage to overhead wires
- Motorists are facing three hour waiting times on the M20 outside Folkestone
- Eurotunnel tweeted to passengers there was ‘overhead power supply fault’ in the Channel Tunnel
- The fault also believed to have caused a train breakdown in the tunnel
- Comes as half-term holidaymakers hit roads and headed on European getaways
Motorists are still facing waiting times of three hours to access the Channel Tunnel’s Kent terminal after overhead power cables were damaged last night.
Furious holidaymakers and lorry drivers were forced to bed down in their vehicles after the railway suffered a huge electrical fault.
Hundreds of motorists had earlier clogged the M20 near Folkestone in Kent – some for as long as nine hours – unable to board trains for France.
Apologising the delays, Eurotunnel confirmed it had been caused by a ‘technical fault with the overhead power supply’. It is believed this also caused a train to break down inside the tunnel which had to be evacuated.
This morning Eurtunnel confirmed they had fixed the electrical fault, but that travellers were still facing delays of up to three hours at the terminal.
Ddozens of angry holidaymakers were left to wait in their cars near Folkestone overnight. People stuck in the traffic jams at the British entry point slammed the ‘chaotic’ and ‘disorganised’ way the incident has been handled by the operator.
One traveller hit out at the ‘appalling’ service, writing on twitter: ’10 hours since arriving, still waiting to board.’
Motorists are still being advised of three hour waiting times to enter the Channel Tunnel
Hundreds of furious holidaymakers and lorry drivers were stuck in mile-long queues for the Channel Tunnel tonight after the railway suffered an huge electrical fault
People stuck in the traffic jams at the British entry point have slammed the ‘chaotic’ and ‘disorganised’ way the incident has been handled by the operator
Hundreds of motorists have clogged the M20 near Folkestone for around six hours today, unable to board trains to France
One motorist described waiting for over nine hours to reach the terminal of the Channel Tunnel
It comes as families headed for railway tunnel in Kent to start their October half term getaways on the continent
It comes as families headed for railway tunnel in Kent to start their October half term getaways on the continent.
The aerial photos show a huge backlog of cars, vans and lorries at J11 on the coastbound side of the motorway.
Angry motorists have complained of sitting in queues for hours without moving and having to resort to social media to find out why there were delays.
Giles Mason, who was heading off on a holiday with his family tweeted: ‘Complete chaos at @LeShuttle at the moment – 4-5 hour delays, vending machines empty, huge queues for food.
The aerial photos show a huge backlog of cars, vans and lorries at J11 on the coastbound side of the motorway
Eurotunnel has confirmed that the delay has been caused by a ‘technical fault with the overhead power supply’
‘All we’re told is ‘tunnel maintenance’. Great start to half-term holidays…. #eurotunnel.’
David Simpson tweeted Eurotunnel saying: ‘Booked for 10.20 am, arrived 12.45 due to delays reaching the terminal, its now 18.00 and no-one can tell us when we can leave. Chaos here, where are the personnel?’
Wendy Hurrell added: ‘The 8 hours we’ve just spent in Folkestone has been…fun @LeShuttle. Just another 4 hours to drive now, through 4 countries, in the dark Grimacing face On the plus side, my child has learned to yo-yo…’
Nathaniel Tapley commented: ‘Currently nine hours into an hour and a half drive.
Pictures of Folkestone tonight show hundreds of freight lorries and cars lined up waiting to board trains, some of which have been delayed since midday
Angry motorists have complained of sitting in queues for hours without moving and having to resort to social media to find out why there were delays
‘Children showing remarkable resilience for having been in the same #eurotunnel queue since half eight this morning.’
Eurotunnel has said it will conduct an investigation into the ‘technical incident’.
Drivers are advised to approach with caution and follow the diversion route in place – heading west bound on the M20, turning at J10 and returning.
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