Revenues at Eurotunnel, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, were more than 9 per cent lower in 2008 than the previous year after a fire in September pushed fourth-quarter revenues down 31.4 per cent.

The fire on September 11 on a truck shuttle severely damaged a section of the 50km undersea, twin-bore tunnel near its French end. Capacity for the company’s car and truck shuttles, cross-Channel Eurostar high-speed trains and freight services continues to be restricted by repair work which has closed 17km of one tunnel. Repair work is due to be completed in mid-February.