Eurotunnel defends its actions

Eurotunnel has launched a strong defence of its actions during last week's Channel Tunnel train breakdown crisis and attacked Eurostar and Kent Police for their handling of what happened.

The operator said it had been "unfairly criticised" for its response to Friday's train seizures and its teams had "intervened with speed and professionalism, above and beyond what is strictly required".

In particular, Eurotunnel accused Eurostar of ignoring safety rules when evacuating passengers from trains after they stopped running and Kent Police of "conducting a series of incomprehensible and interminable checks and controls".

Hundreds of passengers were trapped in the tunnel for hours when five high-speed trains became immobilised after extremely cold conditions in northern France led to snow affecting their electronics. Passengers later spoke of nightmare conditions of cold and hunger.

In a bulletin to its shareholders, the tunnel operator said it was not to blame for the three-day suspension of services and that Eurostar teams "obviously did not give the right information to passengers".

"Despite the fact that Eurotunnel is clearly not to blame for these failures, nor responsible for Eurostar's customer service, and that our teams intervened with speed and professionalism, above and beyond what is strictly required, we have been unfairly criticised for not having reacted correctly," it added.

It said that when five Eurostar trains broke down, and blocked the two railway tunnels, Eurotunnel immediately deployed its two breakdown units (one for each tunnel). The first train to break down was towed without incident to London, while the second rescue unit towed two trains to Folkestone.

"Although they (the trains) were in constant contact with our teams, it is apparent that the on board Eurostar crews did not relay any useful information to their passengers," Eurotunnel said.

When Eurotunnel sent one of its own shuttles to assist with a rescue, the time taken was protracted "as the Eurostar crew, in total disregard of safety procedures, told the passengers to bring their luggage with them", it said.

Two Eurostar trains sent from London to recover their rescued passengers arrived, very late, with no food or water on board and with no crew, it added.