Channel Tunnel safety review call

Services through the tunnel will not be running normally for several months

Liberal Democrats have urged a safety review for lorries using the Channel Tunnel, following a fire which caused major disruption to services.

Lib Dem transport spokesman Norman Baker says hazardous cargos such as radioactive material should be banned.

He also wants the limit on fuel being carried reduced from 1,500 litres to 300 litres to reduce the risk of fire.

Meanwhile Eurotunnel has opened another section of the north tunnel and resumed 40 more daily train services.

It is not yet known what caused the fire but French officials say the fire was near a lorry carrying chemicals.

Stricter rules

Mr Baker wants the introduction of fully-enclosed lorry carriages, rather than the partially open-sided ones currently in use.

He says the government has been complacent in not pushing the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority to adopt stricter rules.

Thirty-two people on a lorry shuttle service were led to safety after the fire in the north tunnel on 11 September. Fourteen were treated for minor injuries, including smoke inhalation.

Eurotunnel has said it will take several months before Channel Tunnel services are operating normally again following the fire.

However, another of the previously-closed sections of the north tunnel has reopened, raising overall capacity from 170 trains a day to 210.

The London to Paris and Brussels high-speed Eurostar train services will be almost back to normal.

Folkestone-to-Calais passenger and truck services have increased and rail freight trains are using the tunnel at night.