The fire damaged section of the Channel Tunnel continues to be kept off limits to all but investigators of the French rail accident police (BEATT) a week after the blaze took hold on a freight shuttle carrying lorries.
Eurotunnel has had no access to the section where the train fire happened – Interval 6, in the last third of the north running tunnel, approximately 4km beyond the last crossover cavern and some 11 km from the French portal.
No information on the condition of the tunnel has been handed over except sight of photos of damage to the freight wagons and debris on the tunnel floor.
Based on the experience of the fire in the north tunnel in 1996, also near the French portal, Eurotunnel anticipates that there will be some extent of damage to the concrete lining of the tunnel. The trains are approximately 800m long and most wagons were ablaze, and therefore it is estimated that fire damage may extend for approximately 700m.
However, there have not been any details released by BEATT investigators who remain in the tunnel, and it is not believed from observers’ reports from the central, service tunnel that colliery rings – as used in 1996 as structural support – have been employed.
No official cause has yet been given by BEATT as for the cause of the fire on 11 September.
Eurotunnel is focusing on using a cleaning train to spray product onto the earlier stretches of the north tunnel it does have access to (Intervals 2 and 4). The train is working shorter sections as it advances where the soot and smoke particles gradually get thicker, having been blown down the tunnel by the emergency ventilation applied to keep the air clear at the front of the train, for evacuation and to help firefighters.
The company is also developing repair plans for the tunnel lining and equipment in preparation for the eventual release of Interval 6. Discussions are taking place with potential suppliers and advisers, it was confirmed.
Eurotunnel hopes the clean-up of Interval 2 will be completed in 1-2 weeks and would bring significant operational benefits. In subsequent weeks, when Interval 4 – the central section between the crossover caverns – is cleaned, Eurotunnel said that its operating capacity would almost be back to normal, as it often has a section out for maintenance.
The resumed Channel Tunnel train services have been operating at restricted capacity using only the south running tunnel.
The fire started on a France-bound shuttle train and the 32 people on board were evacuated via the service tunnel. It is not expected that the fire-wrecked train will be removed from Interval 6 for weeks.
