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Johnny Depp among Eurostar passengers hit by delays

A Eurostar train carrying 480 passengers had to be evacuated in northern France on Sunday with the actor Johnny Depp among those inconvenienced.

Published: 9 May 2016 08:15 CEST
Johnny Depp among Eurostar passengers hit by delays
Photo: AFP

Hundreds of passengers had to be evacuated from a Eurostar train in northern France on Sunday and among those put out by the breakdown was Hollywood actor Jonny Depp.

The star was on board the London-bound train that became blocked on the rails on Sunday morning.

According to reports in France, the train ground to a halt after a fire alarm was triggered as it approached the Channel Tunnel. Reports claim there was smoke being emitted from the engine as it approached the gateway to the UK.

As a result, it couldn’t enter the tunnel and passengers were forced to get off the train at the Calais-Frethun station, while they waited for an alternative Eurostar to arrive from Brussels to pick them up.

But at least the presence of the Pirates of the Caribbean star appeared to lessen the annoyance for many members of staff, who managed to persuade the actor to appear in a photo.

Depp's Eurostar train wasn't the only cross-Channel service hit by delays on Sunday. Eurostar said a power issue on the UK side of the tunnel caused disruption to several services.

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CHANNEL

Cross-Channel ferry trips suspended because of French strike action over Brexit

Cross-Channel ferry crossings were disrupted Friday due to strike action in French ports, with travellers on some routes advised to postpone their trips.

Published: 24 September 2020 12:03 CEST
Cross-Channel ferry trips suspended because of French strike action over Brexit
Photo: AFP

The northern French port of Calais, a hub for cross-Channel trade and travel, was shut Thursday by striking workers who want higher pay to deal with Brexit-realted complications and coronavirus rules.

The strike began at 8am and is set to last for 24 hours.

“As the largest passenger port in continental Europe, the port of Calais is simultaneously facing the Covid-19 crisis, Brexit and the migration crisis,” the sector branch of the FO union said.

Port workers fear a drastic increase in paperwork and waiting times when Britain formally leaves the EU trading bloc later this year, especially if there is no deal on the terms of the exit.

The coronavirus crisis might also lead to a greater work load due to health checks and quarantine regulations.

In addition, the FO pointed out that a planned extension of the port next year would raise traffic by some 30 percent.

Anyone travelling by ferry to northern France on Friday was advised to check with the ferry company before heading to the port, and several services urged their customers to find alternative means of transportation or postpone their trips.

No ferries were operating, with vessels of the DFDS and P&O companies either blocked in Calais or across the Channel in the English port of Dover.

 

DFDS UK also advised its customers to postpone their trip if possible.

 

P&O Ferries suspended its services as well and advised customers to postpone their trips while trying to transfer some of them towards other providers, “this is solely dependent on there being space available,” they wrote on Twitter.

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