PARIS, Sept 29, 2008 (AFP) - Five of the six sections of the Channel Tunnel damaged earlier this month in an accidental fire have now reopened and rail traffic is gradually returning to normal, owner Eurotunnel said Monday.

Repairs will allow operators to increase services from 170 to 210 trains per day from Wednesday, returning traffic to virtually full capacity, albeit with a modified timetable, the firm said in a statement.

Fire broke out on September 11 aboard a shuttle train carrying 27 trucks from Britain to France. Since then, both cross-Channel freight and Eurostar passenger trains from London to Paris and Brussels have been disrupted.

Investigators are still trying to establish what caused the blaze.