Eurostar defers Brussels service

The service to Brussels will resume once the tunnel is at full capacity

Eurostar has deferred the resumption of daily direct services between Ashford International, in Kent, and Brussels.

The service was due to have been reintroduced in December, but problems caused by last month's fire in the Channel Tunnel have led to the delay.

Ashford lost all of its services to Brussels when Ebbsfleet International station opened in November 2007.

The high-speed passenger train operator said it would resume the route once the tunnel was operating at full capacity.

Winter timetable

Eurostar announced its decision to reintroduce the service in July, saying the move followed a review of traveller demand.

A 14,000-signature petition had been handed to the government amid complaints from commuters and MPs.

The Ashford service had been due to resume from 14 December, the date of the international winter timetable change.

Eurotunnel, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, has warned it will be some months before all services return to normal following the fire on 11 September.

Twenty-seven vehicles were destroyed and several lorry drivers needed treatment for smoke inhalation.