Tunnel traffic resumes under English Channel after strike; migrants still jumping on trucks

Migrants open a lorry in a failed attempt to cross the English Channel, in Calais, northern France, Wednesday, June 24, 2015. All trains and many ferry services between Britain and France were cut off Tuesday by striking port workers, stranding hundreds of trucks and thousands of passengers on both sides of the English Channel. Adding to the chaos, illegal migrants who are camped by the thousands in the port city of Calais were seen trying to stowaway on vehicles stuck in traffic jams. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (The Associated Press)

prev next

Eurostar passengers wait stranded as Eurostar trains are canceled at St Pancras station in London, Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Eurostar said Tuesday it has canceled all passenger trains for the rest of the day through the tunnel that links France and England, after striking ferry workers swarmed the train line setting tires alight. The move followed a day of chaos in the French port city Calais that began before dawn. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) (The Associated Press)

Passengers wait stranded as Eurostar trains are canceled at Gare du Nord station in Paris, Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Train and ferry services from the northern French city of Calais to Britain were cut off Tuesday by striking port workers, stranding hundreds of trucks and thousands of passengers on both sides of the English Channel. Adding to the chaos, illegal migrants camped by the thousands in the port city were seen trying to stowaway on vehicles stuck in traffic jams. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu) (The Associated Press)

CALAIS, France – Traffic has resumed in the tunnel beneath the English Channel, but lines are still long for trucks traveling between Britain and France following a day of disruption by striking port workers.

Illegal migrants trying to sneak across to Britain are taking advantage of the snail's-pace traffic to sneak onto trucks boarding the shuttle trains that carry them through the tunnel.

Eurotunnel, which runs those shuttle trains, said traffic resumed Wednesday morning, as did the Eurostar passenger train service.

Both companies cancelled all trains Tuesday after ferry workers striking over expected job cuts swarmed train lines and set tires alight.

Migrants from Sudan, Eritrea and elsewhere are camped by the thousands in the port city of Calais trying to reach Britain, where they believe they will have better job prospects.