In May 2009, Eurostar and SNCF instigated litigation directly against Eurotunnel’s first line insurers before the Tribunal de Grand Instance in Paris, thereby freezing €48m of indemnities.
Following a fire in the Channel tunnel in 2008, Eurostar’s traffic was interrupted for a period of 30 hours. Part of the tunnel was out of service and, despite reconstruction being completed in record time, below capacity tunnel operations led to significant operating losses for tunnel owner Eurotunnel.
Eurotunnel expressed its appreciation that the litigation was being dropped, saying that this was a major step towards the final settlement of this affair.
Eurotunnel said that there was now no reason why the second line insurance companies, represented by the fronting agent, White Rock, a subsidiary of the insurer Aon, should not move to a final settlement.
The reconstruction works and the shuttle which was destroyed were fully covered to a value of €90m. On 31 December 2010, Groupe Eurotunnel had received €157m in indemnities.
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