Thread: Channel Tunnel to be extended with 600m covered section near Calais

By EMMA GLANFIELD FOR MAINLINE PUBLISHED: 06:15 GMT, 19 February 2016 | UPDATED: 09:56 GMT, 19 February 2016

The Channel Tunnel is to be extended for the first time since it opened with a 600m covered section near Calais to keep migrants out

Channel Tunnel to be extended by 600 metres to include a covered section

£4.7million project to build a covered section near Calais to stop migrants

Tunnel will be encased in concrete for third of a mile at Coquelles entrance

Section currently protected by fence but migrants are able to get on trains

Jacques Gounon, chief executive of Eurotunnel, told The Times: 'The risk this summer is that we will see migrants overwhelming Europe.

'I would like to not be reactive, like last July, but to anticipate the problem and have additional security measures.'

He said more security was needed to stop the migrants but fears there is a danger ministers might 'say there is no migrant issues so there is no reason to fund some additional protection'.

Work to extend the Channel Tunnel could be carried out over a four month period and would see signalling, firefighting equipment and emergency exits all introduced at various points.

Mr Gouon said another measure to protect the tunnel was also in the pipeline, with a joint control and command centre staffed with officials from France and the UK being set up in the coming months.

The taxpayer faces having to pay up to £22million in compensation to Eurotunnel for disruption caused by last summer's migrant chaos.

The firm has asked both the British and French governments to reimburse it for lost trade after thousands of migrants stormed the tunnel in July and August.

The operator faced heavy disruption as migrants from the Jungle camp in Calais repeatedly tried to enter Britain. It has applied to its regulator the Intergovernmental Commission for the payout.

The French and British government have responsibility for border control and security and in 2000 Eurotunnel successfully claimed around £13million for disruption. The latest claim would probably be split between the two countries.

The Channel Tunnel was opened in May 1994 and runs the 31.4miles between Folkestone in Kent and Coquelles, near Calais, France.

The tunnel carries high-speed Eurostar trains and allows vehicles to pass through.

Read more: Channel Tunnel to be extended with 600m covered section near Calais | Daily Mail Online

Won't the train jumpers just board earlier on?