This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/8511857.stm
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Eurostar releases report on snow | Eurostar releases report on snow |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A report into the failure of six Eurostar trains before Christmas will be published later. | A report into the failure of six Eurostar trains before Christmas will be published later. |
| The breakdowns left more than 2,500 people stuck in the Channel Tunnel, some for over five hours, amid total delays of more than 16 hours. | The breakdowns left more than 2,500 people stuck in the Channel Tunnel, some for over five hours, amid total delays of more than 16 hours. |
| Services were cancelled for three days, leaving around 100,000 people stranded. | Services were cancelled for three days, leaving around 100,000 people stranded. |
| The report is expected to say that Eurostar should improve the snow protection on its trains, and upgrade tunnel communications equipment. | The report is expected to say that Eurostar should improve the snow protection on its trains, and upgrade tunnel communications equipment. |
| 17-hour journey | 17-hour journey |
| One of those trapped in the tunnel was Joanne Richards from Llanelli. She was travelling with her 13-year-old son, Jac, who has cerebral palsy. | |
| It was really the trip from hell Joanne Richards, passenger | It was really the trip from hell Joanne Richards, passenger |
| Their journey, which should have taken just three hours, took 17. | Their journey, which should have taken just three hours, took 17. |
| "For a period of time I was on my own with Jac, which was very worrying," she said. | "For a period of time I was on my own with Jac, which was very worrying," she said. |
| "Other passengers were great - they helped a great deal - and there was a blitz spirit, but by the end of the 17 hours Jac looked... really ill and we feared for him. It was really the trip from hell," she added. | "Other passengers were great - they helped a great deal - and there was a blitz spirit, but by the end of the 17 hours Jac looked... really ill and we feared for him. It was really the trip from hell," she added. |
| 'Winterisation' | 'Winterisation' |
| The problems stemmed from heavy snow in northern France. Eurostar said at the time that the conditions were the worst for running trains it had seen in 15 years of operations. | The problems stemmed from heavy snow in northern France. Eurostar said at the time that the conditions were the worst for running trains it had seen in 15 years of operations. |
| The company normally carries out a "winterisation" programme on all its trains to protect them from snow, but the snow before Christmas was finer than normal, according to Eurostar, and managed to get through the grills on the side of the power car. | The company normally carries out a "winterisation" programme on all its trains to protect them from snow, but the snow before Christmas was finer than normal, according to Eurostar, and managed to get through the grills on the side of the power car. |
| When the train went into the tunnel where it was much warmer, the snow then melted, short-circuiting the trains' electrics. | When the train went into the tunnel where it was much warmer, the snow then melted, short-circuiting the trains' electrics. |
| The company suspended services for three days, while it carried out emergency modifications. | The company suspended services for three days, while it carried out emergency modifications. |
| Tens of thousands of passengers were stranded in London, Paris and Brussels. Many made their own way using domestic rail and ferry services. Others decided not to travel at all. | Tens of thousands of passengers were stranded in London, Paris and Brussels. Many made their own way using domestic rail and ferry services. Others decided not to travel at all. |
| The company said it would refund the tickets of those affected and pay for out-of-pocket expenses, such as hotel accommodation and offer compensation, depending on how severely the passenger had been affected. | The company said it would refund the tickets of those affected and pay for out-of-pocket expenses, such as hotel accommodation and offer compensation, depending on how severely the passenger had been affected. |
| Were you affected by the Eurostar disruption in December? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Were you affected by the Eurostar disruption in December? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |