Why Couldn't the Broken Eurostar Train Be Towed?
Discussion
This came up in conversation with mates tonight. How come they couldn't stick a big ol' diesel unit on the line and tugged the broken down unit out of where it was? Considering people were fainting, being asked to breathe slower etc? AFAIK the rail is standard guage?
I am most intrigued.
I am most intrigued.
Speed_Demon said:
This came up in conversation with mates tonight. How come they couldn't stick a big ol' diesel unit on the line and tugged the broken down unit out of where it was? Considering people were fainting, being asked to breathe slower etc? AFAIK the rail is standard guage?
I am most intrigued.
Wrong kind of snow on the line, it melted and dribbled down the rails under the sea. This shorted out the tractor beam.I am most intrigued.
Speed_Demon said:
This came up in conversation with mates tonight. How come they couldn't stick a big ol' diesel unit on the line and tugged the broken down unit out of where it was? Considering people were fainting, being asked to breathe slower etc? AFAIK the rail is standard guage?
I am most intrigued.
Not in a tunnel, sir!I am most intrigued.
TheEnd said:
Speed_Demon said:
This came up in conversation with mates tonight. How come they couldn't stick a big ol' diesel unit on the line and tugged the broken down unit out of where it was? Considering people were fainting, being asked to breathe slower etc? AFAIK the rail is standard guage?
I am most intrigued.
Not in a tunnel, sir!I am most intrigued.
Maybe different coupling systems, signalling systems and diesel engines prevent normal locos being used in the tunnel and on the high speed line? The 5 rescue locos belong to Euroshuttle and presumably don't have the compatibility problems. But there are only 5 of them and 4 of these made it to St.Pancras with Eurostars in tow. Obviously didn't think there'd be so many failures in such a short space of time.
smack said:
How about these?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurotunnel_Class_0001
Well the passengers might have been stranded for 15 hours in the dark with no food or water, but at least 'in 2007 the locomotives were fitted with additional diesel particulate filters for the exhaust'. Phew, that was close.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurotunnel_Class_0001
They where towed out. However they did not have a tow train locally and the french kept pileing them in. There are a set of systems in place that need to be followed before the emergency brakes can be taken off. (they default to stop when power is lost)
Also it was'nt dark, or cold. Even though the system is s
t, they did put some thought into it!
Also it was'nt dark, or cold. Even though the system is s
t, they did put some thought into it!
As far as i'm aware, if there was a fire, the driver would of reported it, if the driver failed to do this, and just left the cab, then (as far as i'm aware) there's a dead man switch which is only active when the driver is at his proper position, if this is broken then brakes aree applied automatically, and signals tripped automatically, thus red lighting (presumabaly) that track section/tunnel/ELR.
I've never been in a trains cab not do i know much about them, but I know basic train signals and how and why there tripped, you can cause a red light (and a huge amount of bother) with a 1.5 meter long pole between the rails
I've never been in a trains cab not do i know much about them, but I know basic train signals and how and why there tripped, you can cause a red light (and a huge amount of bother) with a 1.5 meter long pole between the rails
Ross1988 said:
As far as i'm aware, if there was a fire, the driver would of reported it, if the driver failed to do this, and just left the cab, then (as far as i'm aware) there's a dead man switch which is only active when the driver is at his proper position, if this is broken then brakes aree applied automatically, and signals tripped automatically, thus red lighting (presumabaly) that track section/tunnel/ELR.
I've never been in a trains cab not do i know much about them, but I know basic train signals and how and why there tripped, you can cause a red light (and a huge amount of bother) with a 1.5 meter long pole between the rails
I've never been in a trains cab not do i know much about them, but I know basic train signals and how and why there tripped, you can cause a red light (and a huge amount of bother) with a 1.5 meter long pole between the rails
Does the CTRL have physical signals or is it done in cab with balise units in the track?
That pole idea of yours only works with track circuited lines, you would need a metal pole across the track to make it think there was a train there i.e. you are simulating a train axle.
I was sat on a Eurotunnel train at Ashford for 4 hours on the platform waiting for "clearance" that night. We were the next train due to head into the tunnel. We were held in the carriage and told it was a ticketing issue. Four hours after our due departure we were told to leave the train and that Eurotunnel services were suspended indefinitely.
The whole evening/night/following day was chaos at the Eurotunnel terminal. No matter how much Eurotunnel try to blame Eurostar there is no excuse for the lack of information and rude attitude from the staff at the Ashford terminal that night.
We were given no explanation and directed to leave the terminal. Five of us slept in the car alongside many others that night on the slip road to the M20. At 5 a.m the terminal reopened and the police reopened the M20. Upon arrival at check-in we explained that we were held for four hours and slept in the car and the lady just laughed at us. I asked her the reason for the closure and she replied "well what have you heard?" no apology, no explanation. We travelled on the first of a handful of trains that left the following day before he service was shut down again. Security/immigration checks were non existent on the Friday evening and Saturday morning at Ashford.
A week later on our return journey we were on the train and moving within 10 minutes of arriving at Calais. When working properly the Eurotunnel is a brilliant service but when things go wrong there is no system in place to manage such situations.
The whole evening/night/following day was chaos at the Eurotunnel terminal. No matter how much Eurotunnel try to blame Eurostar there is no excuse for the lack of information and rude attitude from the staff at the Ashford terminal that night.
We were given no explanation and directed to leave the terminal. Five of us slept in the car alongside many others that night on the slip road to the M20. At 5 a.m the terminal reopened and the police reopened the M20. Upon arrival at check-in we explained that we were held for four hours and slept in the car and the lady just laughed at us. I asked her the reason for the closure and she replied "well what have you heard?" no apology, no explanation. We travelled on the first of a handful of trains that left the following day before he service was shut down again. Security/immigration checks were non existent on the Friday evening and Saturday morning at Ashford.
A week later on our return journey we were on the train and moving within 10 minutes of arriving at Calais. When working properly the Eurotunnel is a brilliant service but when things go wrong there is no system in place to manage such situations.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff