howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
19 December 2009
11:59351954 trains stuck in the tunnel all night, london bound from paris.
apparently the breakdowns were caused by the trains leaving the cold winds of northern france and hitting warm air in the tunnel.
2000 passengers spent the night there, sounds very unpleasant.
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
19 December 2009
12:2135201It sounds quite extraordinary. The BBC site is saying five trains stuck overnight. Passengers complaining of unbearable heat, no water, no food, no information, and having to invent their own emergency procedures.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8421875.stmBrian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
19 December 2009
12:5635204meet some eurostar pasengers this morning hopeing to catch a ferry,had to tell them that there was no ferrys to calias as calias was closed,werent to happy about it though.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
19 December 2009
13:2935206just interviewed a chap he got train in france 7 30pm arriving folk 8am this morning
not a happy bunny
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
19 December 2009
15:0135221Eurotunnel and Eurostar are going to have some explaining to do. The same problem occurred in 1995, 2002 and 2003. They appear to have been completely unprepared for it to happen again with totally inadequate contingency measures in place.
From the Guardian 1st Feb 2003:
"The winter weather that has ground nationwide transport to a halt has taken its toll on the Eurostar service. The extreme, icy conditions wreaked havoc for passengers on the rail route which connects London with mainland Europe.
Trains running in freezing temperatures lost power as they hit warm, humid air in the Channel Tunnel yesterday causing them to break down, a Eurostar spokesman said.
Condensation formed on the trains when the cold engines entered the tunnel where the air was much warmer - about 28C (82F) - hampering electrical systems, according to the official. "It knocks out the overhead electrical supply," he said. "
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2003/feb/01/transport.worldGuest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
19 December 2009
18:1135238Whether it was four or five trains stuck in the tunnel, how come they kept sending them in ?
Surely after the first train break-down, no more would go in, maybe a second might if not enough notice was given, but 5 ??
Roger
19 December 2009
19:0235251What on earth would have happened in the event of a terrorist event? Eurostar were absolutely pants verging on, teetering into, negligence. Where were their contingency plans? All organisations offering services must have plans A, B, C and often D!!! A shambles, no excuses.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
19 December 2009
20:4035259as ed posted earlier, this was a repeat performance, why no emeregency supplies of food and drink on board?
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
19 December 2009
20:4735263Would be costly carrying an emergency food supply Howard. The eurostars are efficient trains, and the years of good performances far outweigh the odd blip, but like all else, the gutter media get hold of it, and blow it out of all proportion. In the past, an EWS loco would have gone to rescue them, but the contract was cancelled, and the company no longer have the wagons with the compatible coupling to do anything. It was a shambles, but hopefully this time they will take heed.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
20 December 2009
08:1835272colin it happened again last night another train trapped.
as i have said in other posts how cum other countries have far worse weather yet dont have probs we get>
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
20 December 2009
10:3635287Perhaps the gutter media in this country Kieth is better at slagging it`s own people off than other countries. Perhaps people in this country aren`t interested in other countries weather problems. Possibly, as other countries have it more frequently, they are more adapted to deal with it. I wonder how many people in this country would slag a council off if they found out 6 snow ploughs had been bought, and had been standing in the council yard for 4 years unused due to no snow. Again, the media would have a field day reporting on wasted resources. You can`t win in this life. Well, you could if you viewed life as it is, and got good reporting on it all.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,023
20 December 2009
10:5535288Thought I would put my penny worth into this argument .Ive said before my sons have to work in Norway from time to time sometimes they have to drive to North Norway .It is cold but at least the traffic keeps moving .On another note how about this .My older son has been working in Singapore for nearly three weeks returns today .On Tuesday he is off to Norway .Extreme weather conditions /.Hope he will enjoy Christmas on his return and does not suffer from the variation in climate The other son will be home from USA on Wednesday working .He has been wearing shorts .
Im sort of stuck in doors as i dare not venture too far .Our close was black ice this morning .It should be kept free of ice as we have the nursing home here .The care staff were throwing rock salt on the road as there was a minor accident at the top of the road .
One of the careres kindly salted my neighbours path .Im going out in a minute with woolly bootees and a shawl then maybe I will getr my path gritted .
I should have gone to the event at the Mill yesterday but as it meant walking in icy conditions I did not go I was supposed to judge the fancy dress .
No one thinks to offer to pick you up It was the same when I went to an event with the Brownies a year or so ago I had to walk there and back in the rain .Hard to look glamorous under those conditions .
I have strayed off the point but there is not much community spirit around .
20 December 2009
11:1835293That is sad, Sue. The conditions were horrible over this weekend, no doubt - and Colin, I hear you about Eurostar, but if they are providing a service they should cover contigencies. Carrying water and supplies, and more importantly keeping people informed, are staples of emergency planning. Same with the electrickery board - we called a few times yesteday and got the same message each time, recorded at 10.11 we were told. An update would have been courteous and cost little and would have averted some of the irritation and anxiety.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,023
20 December 2009
11:4335297Straying off the subject as is my norm .I recall in 1963 when we had a very bad spell of weather .I walked about a mile to get into work in deep snow .I was officer in charge at a telephone exchange in Iver Bucks .Some of you may know of it .Pine wood studios,also Duke of Kents residence ,however we had to man the phones and so we did .Standing up most of the tiime as it was so hetic .My late husband was the Station Master at the local station and he had to clear the platforms and keep the fires in the waiting room going .Oh how romatic it all sounds .A long tome ago .
My daughter inlaw has just advised me not to go out as the paths are so icy .I have to be careful as if I break a leg i would be a burden on someone .
Lets hope it will be better tomorrow and I can catch a bus to town .
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
20 December 2009
12:1735309colin states the true reason, snow is not a regular occurrence, councils would be slaughtered for purchasing equipment that just stood idle for long periods.
my biggest complaint is that no-one takes charge of traffic junctions and roundabouts to ensure a flow of traffic.
whilst many roads were gridlocked in one direction they were empty in another.
it has already been stated here that the town centre shops suffered on what should have been their big day of the year.
people in aycliffe could not get in or out of the estate.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
20 December 2009
12:2535311unless you walked both ways.what with no bus service at all yesterday ,along with every junction blocked evan queen street was blocked of by cars and lorrys,a sad state of affairs all round and not a sign of coppers being about doing there job of keeping our roads moving.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
20 December 2009
12:4635312Reviewing my post above Bern, and yours, perhaps an alternative would be that when this sort of weather is forecast, then contingency plans should be put in place. But as I said earlier, trains couldn`t always carry an emergency supply for financial reasons. Going to Sue, regarding that 1963 weather, people probably coped better than they do now, and looks like you did. Perhaps we need a few more 1963 Winter`s to save repeats of all this chaos. Another truth above is Bern regarding up to date information, keeping people informed, very important. You`re right too Howard regarding the police dealing with traffic. I would like to see a law brought in for `ON THE SPOT FINES` for lorries or motorists who block entances and exits from roundabouts. These are needed for emergency services,
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,304
20 December 2009
12:5835315One of the main problems it seemed was the lack of information given to the passengers (in true BR tradition!). My immediate reaction was to wonder why the p.a. system had no battery back-up. However, this morning on BBC News the C.E. of Eurostar said that even in normal conditions it wasn't possible for them to speak to the drivers in the tunnel so that there was no info to pass on anyway. I find this an enormous black hole in safety procedures and wonder why it is allowed.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
20 December 2009
13:0635316Similar to when you go into a tunnel over here Terry, no signal.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,304
20 December 2009
14:2135319"Leaky Feeder" Colin, that's why you can still listen to Radio 2 in the Dartford Tunnel, or do what the tube trains do and have two copper wires on the wall to attach a telephone to!
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
