Eurostar train fails again, leaving 700 stranded
Passengers have to transfer to a rescue train as under-fire service breaks down on the way into London
* Jo Adetunji
* guardian.co.uk, Monday 22 February 2010
Eurostar suffered another setback last night after hundreds of passengers became stranded when a train broke down on its way into London.
British Transport Police said a rescue train was sent out to pick up about 700 passengers after the train stopped running near Ashford in Kent at around 10pm.
One passenger who was returning from France told Sky News from the train that it suddenly came to a stop and the lights on the train went out.
"It's getting fairly hot but people are very calm, very relaxed," he said.
He said that the rescue train turned up shortly before midnight to take the passengers onwards to London.
Eurostar said the train stopped following a "major technical problem", which had not yet been identified. A spokesman said: "We are doing the transfer as quickly as we possibly can.
"We have put everything in position so that people who need to get taxis or people who need hotels are taken care of. Our priority is to make sure our passengers are looked after."
He added: "We are investigating what happened fully. We don't know exactly what happened or why at the moment. The priority at the moment is making sure the passengers are well looked after. As far as we are concerned we have got everything in place." He said all other services were running normally.
The incident is yet another to befall a beleaguered Eurostar which was heavily criticised after a series of train breakdowns during heavy snow in December.
The service, which was crippled for several days, left more than 2,000 people stranded in the tunnel – some overnight – after four trains broke down due to the cold weather just days before Christmas.
The breakdowns led to cancellations and huge disruptions and the company was forced to offer refunds or exchanges to all passengers who were due to travel.
A further train broke down in January leaving passengers stranded in the tunnel for more than an hour.
An independent investigation into the pre-Christmas travel chaos criticised the company this month for failing to adequately protect the train's engines from the winter weather. It said passengers had endured "appalling" conditions and said Eurostar was forced to improvise after failing to plan for such an emergency.
The trains are believed to have failed as they left the cold air in northern France and entered the warmer air inside the tunnel, affecting the engine air intakes.
Eurostar fails again
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Re: Eurostar fails again
Eurostar Breakdown Leaves 700 In The Dark
12:08pm UK, Monday February 22, 2010
Graham Fitzgerald, Sky News Online
Eurostar has begun an investigation after another of its cross-channel trains broke down leaving more than 700 people stranded in darkness.
The Paris-to-London service ground to a halt with its lights off just south of Ashford, Kent, around 10.45pm on Sunday with a "major technical problem".
More than 740 passengers had to climb down ladders on to the tracks and then back up on to a replacement train that arrived more than an hour later.
Eurostar - which was heavily criticised for a series of breakdowns before Christmas that stranded thousands of passengers overnight - apologised for the latest stoppage.
A spokesman said: "We don't know exactly what happened or why at the moment. We are investigating fully."
She added: "We are sorry for any discomfort caused."
There were reports of stifling temperatures on board the stranded train, with toilets not working and staff struggling to find emergency lighting.
But one passenger called Oliver told Sky News conditions on board during the stoppage were "fine", adding: "It's getting fairly hot, but people are very calm, very relaxed."
The rescue train eventually arrived at St Pancras just after 2.30am, more than four and a half hours later than scheduled.
Those on board were offered food and drink and their mood was described by the operator as "extremely good".
About 100 people got off at Ashford.
Eurostar said travellers were offered taxis or hotel accommodation.
They will also get their money back and a free return ticket in compensation.
The train was due to leave Paris Gare du Nord at 7.43pm and arrive in St Pancras at 9.59pm, but was delayed about an hour after an unattended bag sparked a security alert.
Eurostar said it was not expecting any significant disruption to services between London and Paris as a result of the breakdown, and that passengers should check in as normal.
12:08pm UK, Monday February 22, 2010
Graham Fitzgerald, Sky News Online
Eurostar has begun an investigation after another of its cross-channel trains broke down leaving more than 700 people stranded in darkness.
The Paris-to-London service ground to a halt with its lights off just south of Ashford, Kent, around 10.45pm on Sunday with a "major technical problem".
More than 740 passengers had to climb down ladders on to the tracks and then back up on to a replacement train that arrived more than an hour later.
Eurostar - which was heavily criticised for a series of breakdowns before Christmas that stranded thousands of passengers overnight - apologised for the latest stoppage.
A spokesman said: "We don't know exactly what happened or why at the moment. We are investigating fully."
She added: "We are sorry for any discomfort caused."
There were reports of stifling temperatures on board the stranded train, with toilets not working and staff struggling to find emergency lighting.
But one passenger called Oliver told Sky News conditions on board during the stoppage were "fine", adding: "It's getting fairly hot, but people are very calm, very relaxed."
The rescue train eventually arrived at St Pancras just after 2.30am, more than four and a half hours later than scheduled.
Those on board were offered food and drink and their mood was described by the operator as "extremely good".
About 100 people got off at Ashford.
Eurostar said travellers were offered taxis or hotel accommodation.
They will also get their money back and a free return ticket in compensation.
The train was due to leave Paris Gare du Nord at 7.43pm and arrive in St Pancras at 9.59pm, but was delayed about an hour after an unattended bag sparked a security alert.
Eurostar said it was not expecting any significant disruption to services between London and Paris as a result of the breakdown, and that passengers should check in as normal.
