Four Eurostar trains stuck in Channel tunnel

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: The Guardian

More than 2,000 people have been evacuated from four Eurostar trains that were trapped in the Channel tunnel after breaking down due to the cold weather.


The trains are believed to have failed as they left the cold air in northern France and entered the warmer air inside the tunnel.


The four trains had been moved from the tunnel and passengers were being transferred to England, said a Eurostar spokesman.


Some passengers were evacuated to shuttle trains that carry vehicles across but others were stuck overnight. Many complained about the conditions on the stranded trains.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/dec/19/four-eurostar-trains-break-down

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Since the tunnel's only about 30 miles long, and therefore takes perhaps 20 minutes under normal conditions, it seems they sent more trains in even when the first one had broken down. So even if the subsequent trains hadn't broken down, they'd have had to wait for the first to be removed.

[hobbit709]

1. Say what?

This isn't the first winter of operation. This sounds like a CYA explanation
some kind of mechanical failure caused the first breakdown, then the other trains were stuck because the track was blocked. The "warmer air" part is just so much hooey. These trains are all weather operations when not in the tunnel.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Was the temperature difference.

North France was well below zero whilst the tunnel temperature is c. 25C. The resultant condensatation screwed up the electrics. They've got better things to do than suspend services just for laugh especially at this time of the year.

[truthisfreedom]

9. They should spray silicone on all of the electronics and electrical parts regularly.

Condensation is a bitch.

[onehandle]

3. We rode Eurostar last year. Those are nice trains (especially in first class - heh heh)

I have endured 18 hour trips on Amtrak. Which are pretty nice and roomy, if you ask me. But that was with light, water, food and movement. To be stuck in that dark, quiet tunnel under the English Channel would get old pretty quick.

Last year there was a fire in the tunnel three days before our trip from London to Paris (not a train, some sort of service vehicle). They re-started service the morning we were supposed to go and we ended up only two hours later than we would have.

First class full dining service was:
Champagne, Appetizers, Mineral Water, Salad, Wine, Entree, Tea, Desert, Coffee, More Wine, More Coffee, Hot Towel.

[scentopine]

4. could have been much much worse, having been in a train wreck

I am thankful at least they didn't smash into each other.

The crews working on these systems are totally in to it and 100% dedicated. They breathe trains. This is an embarrassment, of course, but I bet some team is working around the clock to troubleshoot the problem.

In the USA we've decided to elect politicians who continue to beat dedication and competence out of the transportation industry.

To the the neo-libs, centrists, realists and neo-cons, transportation is just socialism.

[Libertas1776]

5. That seems like an odd reason for the trains to break down...

I once traveled on the Eurostar, and as a matter of fact, it was in the dead of winter, mid January. We left the "cold winter air" of Northern France and entered the tunnel and we never had to stop. And they sent more trains in? Did I read that right?

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. It's my guess that they sent more trains in

I'd have thought with a modern system like this, they'd have a way of seeing instantaneously (or within a few seconds) that a train has stopped inside the tunnel. I've been through it a couple of times, and 20 minutes for the tunnel section seems about right (that'd be about 90mph). 4 trains, all going north, broke down; and I wouldn't think that they would be going in as frequently as every 5 minutes.

[LeftishBrit]

7. Eurostar is generally much more efficient than the train services in England...

but EVERYTHING seems to be going wrong with transport right at the moment.

[bananas]

8. Great photo at CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/12/19/channel.tunnel/
Eurostar services cancelled as snow brings havoc
By Melissa Gray, CNN

Drivers are stuck on a snow-covered national road in northwestern France as heavy snow brings transport chaos.

London, England (CNN) -- Eurostar said it canceled all services Saturday because of severe weather in northern France, stranding thousands of passengers on the weekend before Christmas.

The cancellation follows the breakdown of five Eurostar trains Friday night inside the Channel Tunnel, also called the Chunnel, which runs between Britain and France. Eurostar blamed the breakdown on the weather.

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