'Hottest day' hell at UK border as 'hundreds' of holidaymakers stranded on sweltering tarmac
Would-be holidaymakers were left stranded for hours (file photo, left)
PA/Pen News
Hundreds of holidaymakers were left stranded on the sweltering tarmac at the Channel Tunnel today on what's expected to be the hottest day of the year so far.
A driver whose trip was delayed by more than two hours said a double breakdown in the tunnel was to blame, citing a briefing from staff at the scene.
But LeShuttle, which operates car services through the Channel Tunnel, blamed "technical difficulties", insisting "no trains have stopped in the tunnel".
The stranded driver said: "We got here and we kept getting put back, put back, put back... Eventually we went up and complained because obviously we've got a new baby.
Motorists were stranded in near-30C heat
Pen News
"So they put us on an earlier train supposedly, but the earlier train hasn't turned up. Basically they're saying there's two trains broken down in the tunnel - so there's only two going per hour instead of four."
He continued: "Some people have been here waiting in the queue for two or three hours, so consequently they're all boiling hot. People are just sitting here in this heat and the temperature here at the minute is 29C - we're just out here on the tarmac and we've got no shade at all."
Another driver who paid for a 2.30pm crossing in the hope of making a ferry bound for Turkey from Bari in southern Italy said he had been stuck for three hours with his children.
He said: "If I don't make that onward connection, I don't know what I'm going to do."
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Drivers were left queueing for hours (file photo)
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The drivers found themselves stuck as temperatures approached 30C
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Another passenger added: "We're two hours late, and have at least another two hours to wait. Some have been here for three hours. There's a good 500 cars waiting.
"They're not letting anyone return to the terminal... They also clearly have no idea what’s going on."
A service update on the website of LeShuttle read: "Please accept our apologies for the longer than usual waiting time being experienced.
"We are working hard to improve the situation and want to assure you that we will get you on your way as soon as we can."
And on social media, a LeShuttle help account posted: "Earlier technical issues resulted in disruption to our service. Our teams are working hard to resolve this as quickly as possible."
In another post, they wrote: "We have had technical issues but no trains have stopped in the tunnel."
Eurostar insisted its services had not been affected
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One passenger replied: “Care to let your customers know a little earlier so they're not sat in a queue for three hours, with babies, in 31 degree heat!!? Zero updates!!"
Another fumed: "We have been waiting to board at Folkestone for nearly two hours.
"Been told our booking time has 'gone out the window'. Please tell us when we are getting on a train. It's 30C."
One more posted: "Shameful service and lack of information at Folkestone today. No staff anywhere in the terminal building. Currently four hours delayed and time just keeps ticking on.
“We have a six-hour drive the other side - what a s*** start to a holiday."
A Eurostar spokesperson said its services had not been affected.