Eurostar operating at 93% capacity
Thursday, 02 Oct 2008 11:12
Eurostar has confirmed it will continue to run at just 93 per cent capacity until well into 2009, following a fire in the tunnel last month.
On September 11th, a blaze burnt out a heavy goods carriage on the train, when toxic chemicals were set alight. The fire lasted for 16 hours before French firefighters were able to bring it under control.
As a result of the fire, thousands of passengers were left stranded, with 32 lorry drivers and train staff forced to flee the scene, with six eventually treated in hospitals for smoke inhalation.
Eurostar has now opened ticket sales for an altered timetable, offering nine daily services from London to Brussels, 16 daily services to Paris and one service to Disneyland Resort Paris.
The new timetable represents about 93% of normal seat capacity.
Chris O’Toole