51.   French state rail company SNCF, addressing fears that a passenger train fire could be worse, offered to refund tickets for its cross-Channel Eurostar service.

52.   Francois van Eeden, an official of the commuter rail company that runs the station, said witnesses who said cattle prods were used were mistaken.

53.   Full restoration of services is not expected until around April after SNCF, the French rail company, has improved security at its terminal near Calais, EWS said.

54.   He will lead an expected crowd so large the national rail company added four extra-long trains to its Strasbourg-bound schedule.

55.   However, the rail company argued that while treaty ruled out discrimination on grounds of sex, it did not cover sexual orientation.

56.   In Spain and Portugal, where the strike had little impact, national rail companies also said traffic was running without delays.

57.   International, intercity, suburban and goods trains were at a standstill, according to state rail company Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses, or CP.

58.   It also wants a written undertaking that no jobs will be lost in the planned break-up of the rail company into separate train service and infrastructure divisions.

59.   Last year, a trade association of rail companies called the Railway Forum launched a campaign to encourage spotters to help report crimes.

60.   Major disruptions are expected for travelers, with the national rail company RENFE canceling all long-distance trains and commuter service reduced to a third its normal level.