Refugee Crisis cuts Eurotunnel's freight train traffic by 33%

Because of the influx of refugees from war torn Syria and other Middle Eastern and African countries, Eurotunnel, the tunnel connecting France and the UK via under the Channel Sea, has seen a decline in freight train traffic by about 33 percent.

According to the Business Insider, there are some 700,000 refugees that are expected to arrive in Europe this year. Meanwhile the United Nations believe that Europe will see the same number of refugees entering the region in 2016.

The refugees that successfully cross over to France go to Calais. There are some 5,000 migrants camped in that area that are waiting to go to the UK. They plan to enter Britain through the Eurotunnel. Some try to break in to trucks, while others walk the tunnel.

Eurotunnel reported that this problem with the refugees has slashed a third of freight trains in its third quarter trading period. Rail freight tonnage also went down 27% year-on-year.

The Independent reported that Eurotunnel has invested greatly in tightening its security since the migrants arrived in Calais back in 2000.

The British and the French governments pay for the costs of additional 29 km security fences, over 250 security personnel and dog teams, more lightings, cameras, and infra-red detectors in Coquelles.

Eurotunnel chief Jacques Gounon said, "Eurotunnel appreciates the support of the British and French governments for this vital link for the European economy and the circulation of people."

In a report from The Guardian, passengers of the Eurotunnel are facing up to 3 hours of delay due to the worsening refugee crisis. Refugees are even coming up with new strategies to penetrate the security in the area.

Despite all these problems, Eurotunnel had a 3 percent increase in revenue to €334.4 million, or $379 million, because of the recovering economy in Britain, which means more people are using the tunnel services.