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Review concludes Eurostar ill-prepared
Source: Agencies |
February 13, 2010, Saturday
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AN independent review concluded yesterday that Eurostar must protect its electronic gear better from melting snow and improve its communications system to avoid debacles like the one that stranded five trains in the tunnel between France and the UK for hours.
The review said filters failed to prevent moisture from causing short circuits and needed to be improved.
"There is absolutely no doubt that these incidents were caused by a large quantity of fine snow entering the power cars and being sucked through the ventilation to the electronic control cabinets," the review said.
"It is surprising that the electronic control cabinet does not have a door fitted and is open to the buildup of snow," the report added.
The review follows a disastrous series of events on December 18 and 19 when the Eurostar trains became trapped in the Channel Tunnel, stranding more than 2,000 passengers for up to 16 hours.
No backup plan
The report said Eurostar was simply unprepared for severe winter weather and that routine maintenance procedures were inadequate, even though the company had had problems in such conditions since 1996.
The review decided there needs to be better crisis communication between Eurotunnel and Eurostar when there is an emergency in the tunnel.
It also said Eurostar needs to do better on informing passengers when delays occur and improve its communications between trains in the tunnel and controllers and emergency services.
It recommended creating a videolink between the two companies' crisis control centers and that a facility should be introduced for Eurostar and other train firms to communicate with train crews inside the tunnel.
The review said filters failed to prevent moisture from causing short circuits and needed to be improved.
"There is absolutely no doubt that these incidents were caused by a large quantity of fine snow entering the power cars and being sucked through the ventilation to the electronic control cabinets," the review said.
"It is surprising that the electronic control cabinet does not have a door fitted and is open to the buildup of snow," the report added.
The review follows a disastrous series of events on December 18 and 19 when the Eurostar trains became trapped in the Channel Tunnel, stranding more than 2,000 passengers for up to 16 hours.
No backup plan
The report said Eurostar was simply unprepared for severe winter weather and that routine maintenance procedures were inadequate, even though the company had had problems in such conditions since 1996.
The review decided there needs to be better crisis communication between Eurotunnel and Eurostar when there is an emergency in the tunnel.
It also said Eurostar needs to do better on informing passengers when delays occur and improve its communications between trains in the tunnel and controllers and emergency services.
It recommended creating a videolink between the two companies' crisis control centers and that a facility should be introduced for Eurostar and other train firms to communicate with train crews inside the tunnel.
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