| |
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
LONDON : Eurostar, facing fresh criticism over the breakdown of cross-Channel passenger trains last weekend, said Friday it was cooperating fully with a review into the controversy.
As the fallout continues over the incident, Eurotunnel accused Eurostar staff of not following safety rules when evacuating passengers from the high speed trains that broke down in the tunnel last Saturday.
Eurostar said it did not want to comment on the claims made earlier Friday while the independent review was underway.
"Following the problem that occurred last weekend in the tunnel, an independent review is under way to establish exactly what happened," Eurostar said in a statement.
"The review, led by Christopher Garnett and Claude Gressier, has been endorsed by the British and French Governments as well as the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC), the Channel Tunnel's Anglo-French supervisory body.
"The IGC has asked that both Eurotunnel and Eurostar cooperate in the review. Eurostar is committed to cooperating fully in the review and would not seek to pre-empt the outcome."
Eurotunnel, the tunnel operator, strongly rejected suggestions that it contributed to the chaos when 2,000 passengers were trapped for a night in five trains that broke down in the tunnel between Britain and France on December 18.
Eurotunnel said the time it took to evacuate the passengers "was unfortunately extended because the Eurostar teams, in complete violation of the safety procedures, asked passengers to take their bags with them."
The tunnel group also criticised Eurostar's communication with the passengers.
- AFP/ir
|
