Rail freight services through the Channel Tunnel are being more seriously affected than ever before by the on-going crisis at Calais, and the failure of the UK and French governments to protect Channel Tunnel freight services from migrant, the Rail Freight Group has warned.
It said the promised better fence is not now due for completion until December, more than six months after the present crisis began. Train reliability had plummeted, and rail freight companies had already lost over £5m worth of trade.
In a letter to prime minister David Cameron, RFG chairman Tony Berkeley said: “It is now time for a fundamental change to the support from UK and French Government and all options should be considered, including changed operational rules and much increased 24/7 security patrolling to provide comprehensive and wide ranging protection for our rail services, the people working in Calais and road transport.
“The two Governments must ensure by whatever means, UK or French army, security services or police that the Eurotunnel and SNCF terminals are fully protected as one entity so that operators can once more give their customers the protection that they have the right to expect.”
