dpb

or just the enevitable slowmo once reaching blighty


either way im not sorry i took car ferry this time two years ago - half the price and qiucker by the looks



BBC News - Passengers trapped on Eurostar trains relive ordeal

WRX_Dazza

The company plans to offer passengers a full refund for tickets , another free journey with them and £150 compensation.

not a bad hourly rate, to be honest

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

It does depend on what you missed out on because of the issue. But really, I just don't buy the news story that it was because the train passed from cold air into hot air.... Its not the first winter these trains have been running in. You would think they would have found out these issues before now if that were true.

dpb

Went Ashford -Paris,then Namur, in May as a foot passenger - very good

WRX_Dazza

"The 20-year-old student from London, who had been on a shopping trip, said: "There has been no proper organisation. "

thats rich coming from a student !!! pmsl

NotoriousREV

From what was said on the news yesterday, the sudden temperature difference was causing the transformers to shut down. Condensation probably isn't a bad shout. Eurotunnel has a few old skool Class 37s to act as rescue, better than this modern rubbish

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

To think I was on the Chunnel on Wednesday night without a single problem albeit a bit of ice/snow on the M20 and a shed load of spray from trucks with 0.5mph speed difference trying to overtake each other

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Branson's Virgin Trains have a fleet of "Thunderbird" locos stationed up and down the West Coast mainline, able to rescue any failed Pendolino, etc.

Given that there are unused class 92's, which are able to pass through the tunnel, standing idle at Crewe and other places, WHY haven't Eurostar got a couple hired and put one on standby at both ends of the tunnel?

Common sense says that they don't want a failed train stuck in there.

Leslie

It is difficult to believe that they can design what is supposed to be a modern system which is susceptible to failure because of higher than usual condensation in the power supplies.

Les !

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

First time its happened since its opened (ommiting unrelated failures), so considering its been running for 15 years, it maybe something that couldn't have been forseen.

At a guess I reckon 15 years of dust build up on the power line insulators (dust will absorb moisture), combined with wear and tear, corrosion and sudden change in humidty (via ice/snow built up on the trains) could be enough to cause arcing to a nearby earth (25KV will easily arc a few feet).

Eitherway, they do (did? leased? ) have diesel rescue trains, so why didn't they utilise them sooner?

Seems it was only eurostar trains that were affected, and the channel tunnel ferry trains were unaffected (presumably because they only operate as far as the tunnels and no further, so don't get exposed to elements as much).

Meanwhile, airports close and roads get gridlocked due to a pitiful flurry of snow that was forecasted, yet Canada has masses of the stuff and chugs on like nothing has happened just like any other day (well, to them it is). How wonderful is our infrastructure and those who operate it ? (or drive on it ).

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Except that the trains are overhauled on huge modern depots at regular intervals, and dust/dirt buildup is on thing they check for and remove, plus each full set will go through Lille Hellemmes works once every two years and have a total strip down/rebuild.

If you mean the overhead lines, the lines themselves are self-cleaning, the insulators are cleaned regularly too.

Take your point about the rescue locos though. WHY weren't they used sooner?

GC8

Isnt the root of the problem that snow is entering the locomotives?

Leslie

The grass does not grow under your feet!

Yes and then the water gets into the electric system and dumps it. Not a very impressive design.

Les

ChrisB

Interesting article on El 'Reg:

Can anyone explain the chunnel fiasco? ? The Register

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Interesting read.

Regardless of the fault, there seems to be a severe lack of communication and no proper contingency. Let alone any common sense with logistical handling.

The thrid train should have been stopped and not allowed to enter the tunnel, or diverted onto a different tunnel line. Its quite plausible to assume that the second, third or fourth trains did not break down or suffer complete failure (the reports are unclear) but of course, they were blocked in at either end (unless overhead power was interrupted).

The first diesel rescue loco should have pulled out two trains, not one, like the second rescue loco. The rescue locos should have been mobilised immediately after the second train became stuck. If a train cannot be mobilised within 30mins of breakdown, then it needs to be towed out.

Finally the diesel locos should be utilised on a limited service to transport further passengers to reduce backlog whilst the electric locos remain out of service.


Or does that sound too much like common sense?