Tunnel freight halted indefinitely

SNCF wants extra police security

Freight services through the Channel Tunnel have been suspended indefinitely after repeated security problems at the freight yard on the French side.

Trains from the freight depot at Frethun, near Calais, were halted on Friday after more than 200 asylum seekers gained access to the yard.

French rail operator SNCF, which runs the depot, said on Tuesday the situation had not changed, with up to 50 would-be immigrants invading the site whenever a new train was about to depart.

This is effectively destroying our business

EWS

As a result the company did not know when services would resume.

A spokesman for rail freight company English Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS), which has lost £6m because of the delays, said the situation was a "disaster for British business".

Robust security

SNCF had just 15 police officers patrolling the perimeter of the yard and five security staff, he added.

Since SNCF first restricted services heading to Britain in November more than 1,700 EWS international rail freight services have been cancelled.

Isn't it time the French started to do something positive instead of simply shrugging their shoulders ?

Mike, Norwich

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