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Passengers stranded in Channel Tunnel

By: KentOnline reporter multimediadesk@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 06:30, 19 December 2009

Updated: 06:30, 19 December 2009

The control tower at tunnel HQ

The Channel Tunnel has been closed due to the weather and Operation Stack introduced.

But all of the passengers stranded when four Eurostar trains broke down in the Channel Tunnel have now been freed.

Up to 2,000 people were trapped on board for hours after the trains ground to a halt in the wintry conditions.

All the passengers have now been moved from the trains and were taken to London's St Pancras International station.

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Police have issued an urgent travel warning to drivers to avoid the Folkestone and Dover areas of the M20 - particularly junctions 11, 11A and 12.The severe weather conditions are adding to the difficulties, and there is no parking for drivers, who are being turned away from the Channel Tunnel.A spokesman for Kent Police said: "We would urge all drivers to avoid this area of the M20 in Kent."

Our own weather difficulties are believed to have been exasperated by severe weather in France, with the closure of the port of Calais.

Phase 2 of Operation Stack is in place, meaning coastbound lorries being held on the M20 between junction 8 (Leeds Castle) and junction 9 (Ashford).

Traffic not heading for the Channel Tunnel or the Port of Dover will be diverted along the A20.

This phase of Operation Stack means more than 2,300 lorries can be parked on the M20.

Chief Inspector Nicola Faulconbridge from Kent Police said: "We would urge drivers to avoid the M20 in the Folkestone and Dover areas. Unless your journey is absolutely vital do not travel."

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A Eurostar spokesman said: "Eurostar has cancelled all services on Saturday morning before 12 noon because of severe weather conditions.

"People who have booked a journey for Saturday morning are advised not to travel.

"The rest of the day and into Sunday Eurostar services will be severely disrupted as well.

"We strongly recommend that travellers whose journey is not essential change their tickets for travel on a later date or have their tickets refunded. Eurostar services should be back to normal on Monday."

Anyone planning to travel on the Channel Tunnel or by ferry today should check their travel details with their travel operator before they set out.

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