Friday, 12 February 2010

RMT warns of Eurostar disruption far worse than the problems at Christmas

RAIL UNION RMT warned today that the disruption to Eurostar services in the run to Christmas will be repeated many times over if EU mandarins are allowed to force their rail competition directive onto the route through the Channel Tunnel.

RMT has already recorded its concerns over the series of issues that led to the service breaking down between 18th to 22nd December – specifically the delays in implementing contingency plans and in removing the defective trains from the tunnel.

However, RMT are warning that the EU rail directive, which could open up the Channel Tunnel to a privatised free for all, would unleash total chaos with potentially lethal consequences.

European companies thought to be eyeing up the Channel Tunnel route, including German rail giant DB Schenker, do not run rolling stock compatible with the escape system operational in the tunnel. The doors do not open adjacent to the escape pods into the service tunnel potentially making it impossible for passengers to escape a serious incident.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"We have raised our detailed concerns over the failures that contributed to the breakdown of services on the Eurostar in the run up to Christmas and we are discussing those issues with the company to ensure that the lessons are learnt and that there is no repeat in the future.

"However, the failures between the 18th and 22nd December are nothing compared to the catastrophic impact that the deregulated free for all being lined up by the European Union would have on the Channel Tunnel.

"Companies would be allowed to milk the service for every penny that they can – jacking up fares and compromising safety in the dash for profits. We would be staring down the barrel of a disastrous failure way over and above anything that happened just before Christmas."

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