Re: Eurostar breakdowns.

On 20 Dec, 07:18, "DW downunder" <noname> wrote:
"DB." <a...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

news:xt7Xm.70207$ZS6.9298@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

   Will someone please explain, in simple terms, just what it is that
is causing these Eurostar trains to break down in the Channel Tunnel
during this cold weather?
   What parts are affected?  Is there a quick and easy solution?
   Has this happened in previous years?

TIA of replies.
--
DB.

Yes it has. It was quite similar to the "wrong kind of snow" affecting the
317s in '86.

Snow built up on ventilation panels for equipment compartments. Upon
entering the tunnel, the warmer conditions melted the snow rapidly, and
resulted in a spray of water onto the equipment - in a manner which was
different to rainy conditions, when the water and air are separated by a
partial centrifuge effect. The water caused the equipment to go into a fault
condition and stopped the train.

When the train has run through the tunnel, all the exterior and ventilation
panels are at tunnel temperature. Emerging into near- or sub-zero conditions
with snow falling or snow drifting in wind would mean that the snow would
melt on contact with the equipment vents and louvres, and could again
overload or bypass the air/water separation and hit the equipment.

It would suggest to this engineering layman that heat exchangers might be
better than direct air cooling of live equipment.

My 2p

DW downunder

Just to get some balance on this matter, although not on the same
scale, several hundred passengers had their holidays cancelled
yesterday at Gatwick because incoming aircraft could not have the
luggage unloaded. They could not open the baggage hold doors where
latches had frozen on the inside. presumably because that heating
circuit had failed.?
Flights across Europe and at least one to India were cancelled. My
parents flew in from Spain flight time 2 hrs 50 minutes, time by the
baggage carousel, 3 hrs 10 minutes. One airline in particular was
badly affected, Monarch. More attention to those latches Monarch! We
were outside arrivals watching the news about Eurostar on the laptop,
and wondering where the BBC were at Gatwick after being there for 9
hours. We travelled down to Gatwick on a very punctual train and
watched as flights got later and later from across Europe. My parents
flight started as an hour late incoming, (it was snowing in Alicante),
ended up two hours late, (these things happen) but the baggage hall
was in chaos with around a dozen flight loads of people and no baggage
coming through. Then as flights were cancelled people whose luggage
had been checked in arrived as well to reclaim it and go back home. I
watched as the info desk at Easyjet emptied of staff. It was
predictable seeing what happened next, EZXXX to Milan Milpensa was
cancelled and passengers were simply advised by tannoy in English and
Italian to re-book via Easyjet.com. At least Monarch staff stayed at
their posts besieged by annoyed would be passengers.
.

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