Eurotunnel bids to ease asylum fears

EUROTUNNEL revealed the extent of the asylum-seeker chaos on its Cross-Channel rail link today, admitting that freight tonnage going through the tunnel had almost halved in the first three months of the year.

But it told its shareholders there is nothing to worry about as it has sorted out security on its own shuttle services and that even if the freight train operators, British-based EWS and French State-owned SNCF, cannot get their trains through, Eurotunnel is cushioned by guaranteed taxpayer subsidies.

Chief executive Richard Shirrefs said: 'Through-rail tonnage fell by 49%, reflecting disruption by asylum seekers which has now shifted to the rail freight services operated by SNCF and EWS. This has no effect on Eurotunnel's revenues, which are covered by the Minimum Usage Charge.' He continued: 'Asylum seekers continue to make the headlines but are no longer affecting our business. The investment we made in security at our Coquelles terminal last year has fully restored service quality and in the first quarter has improved our reliability and punctuality.'

On its own shuttle services it reported 3% growth in the number of trucks carried, in line with the growth being reported on the short sea cross-Channel market. Passenger shuttles were sharply down, reflecting the poor current tourism market with the number of cars carried down 10% and coaches off 21%. Operating revenues for the first quarter rose 1% to £130.3m.