‘Now 10 hours since arriving, still waiting’: Half-term holidaymakers bed in for the night at Channel Tunnel terminal after power supply breakdown causes chaos
- Motorists have been stuck in traffic on M20 outside Folkestone for ten hours
- Eurotunnel tweeted to tell 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
Furious holidaymakers and lorry drivers were bedding down for a night at the Channel Tunnel’s Kent terminal tonight – after the railway suffered an huge electrical fault.
Hundreds of motorists earlier clogged the M20 near Folkestone in Kent for several 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 has now to be evacuated.
But with services only creeping back into action, dozens 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.’
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
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.