EuroStar gets stuck in tunnel - passengers told to 'breathe less' - Polidicks

[QUOTE=ThePuska;19104788]I think you've misunderstood the meaning of "underwater" in this case[/QUOTE] No, the thing is that in a 20 mile long tunnel, there won't be a lot of fresh air coming in. If you use up the oxygen in the middle, you'll suffocate unless you've got some means of circulation, or a real strong wind blowing in. Try breathing through a 20 foot snorkel. The effect is similar. (actually, don't try it underwater. You might die. Seriously.)

Way to handle that one, France

That, strictly speaking, (from the photograph at least) isn't a Eurostar, but I get the point. Uhh. The channel tunnel has a pretty impressive safety record. 15 years of service and no (Or so I think) deaths (There have been reports of fatalities of asylum seekers getting hit in the service tunnel, but those are pretty much conspiracy theories about UK government cover-ups.) In theory, the eurotunnel employees were just talking crap. The ventilation systems in the tunnel (Consisting of two huge systems at each end) were running fine, and air was certainly circulating the tunnels, but the fact is the air conditioning and insulation on the trains was just too good. Opening the air-conditioning cocks (make a joke plx) would have given some natural ventilation, but that can only be done from the trackside, and none of the regular employees were trained. Eurostars run at 186mph, weigh almost 800 tonnes, and have seats for 750 people. There are 31 to maintain and run, and the technology used isn't much different from TGVs of the 1970s. Maintaining a 400 metre train is no mean feat, and one electrical short can put the whole thing down. It's not that massive a fault, but it's weird that they didn't send any rescue services in sooner. ITT: The brits+frenchs that were trapped will probably live. And it's not like it was some huge case of negligence, it's a design fault made by a frenchman/englishman some 15-30 years ago (depending on when the underfloor equipment was designed) [editline]07:47PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Don Merino;19104888]No, the thing is that in a 20 mile long tunnel, there won't be a lot of fresh air coming in. If you use up the oxygen in the middle, you'll suffocate unless you've got some means of circulation, or a real strong wind blowing in. Try breathing through a 20 foot snorkel. The effect is similar. (actually, don't try it underwater. You might die. Seriously.)[/QUOTE] There are huge ass fans at each end of the tunnel for ventilation, and they were all running when it happened. "Breath less" wasn't really neccecary.

[QUOTE=Splurgy;19102533]This isn't exactly their fault Ok, they were real dicks about it but its not a reason to boycott them or anything[/QUOTE] Yeah actually, its every reason

[QUOTE=Shock;19105228]Yeah actually, its every reason[/QUOTE] I know, a fault in the train, and they asked you to conserve air so it wouldn't get so damn uncomfortable there without even saying that "We're sorry"! That is so outrageous!

[QUOTE=jblack;19105284]I know, a fault in the train, and they asked you to conserve air so it wouldn't get so damn uncomfortable there without even saying that "We're sorry"! That is so outrageous![/QUOTE] It wouldn't have got that bad. I was on a Eurostar for 3 hours when the AC had failed. Sure it was sweaty and uncomfortable but it wasn't fatal. They would've been fine.

[QUOTE=Wolfie13;19105132]That, strictly speaking, (from the photograph at least) isn't a Eurostar, but I get the point.[/QUOTE] Isn't that the Eurostar's car for vehicles? Just crowded with people because it was probably too hot inside the passenger cars.

[QUOTE=Wolfie13;19105475]It wouldn't have got that bad. I was on a Eurostar for 3 hours when the AC had failed. Sure it was sweaty and uncomfortable but it wasn't fatal. They would've been fine.[/QUOTE] If it was moving forward that would've changed the air well enough...

[QUOTE=PLing;19105639]Isn't that the Eurostar's car for vehicles? Just crowded with people because it was probably too hot inside the passenger cars.[/QUOTE] Yes that's a cargo carriage

Must've been a breathtaking experience.

Seems like a bad design to me. But I wouldn't really know since I live 3,000 miles away from it It would of been hilarious if Jeremy Clarckson got stuck in it during one of those top gear races they have

[QUOTE=matt.ant;19105679]Yes that's a cargo carriage[/QUOTE] No, that's a eurotunnel train. Completey separate company.

[QUOTE=Bengley;19107753]No, that's a eurotunnel train. Completey separate company.[/QUOTE] Ok I was just reading what it says under the picture in the article