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| Eurostar break down 20/12/2009 at 11:25 #407 | |
computeringjl
29 posts |
4 eurostar units broke down in the channel tunnel for the first 15 years since the start of operation of this tunnel. News say that it's due to condensation of water on the electrificated wires in the humid tunnel (or in France if i'm wrong) becuase of cold France. Is there any ventilation in the tunnel? If so, then why would the tunnel still be humid? How can the condensation of water result in electrification 'black out'? Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 20/12/2009 at 11:25 #5166 | |
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computeringjl
29 posts |
4 eurostar units broke down in the channel tunnel for the first 15 years since the start of operation of this tunnel. News say that it's due to condensation of water on the electrificated wires in the humid tunnel (or in France if i'm wrong) becuase of cold France. Is there any ventilation in the tunnel? If so, then why would the tunnel still be humid? How can the condensation of water result in electrification 'black out'? Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 20/12/2009 at 12:04 #5167 | |
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AndyG
1842 posts |
The tunnel certainly has (fan forced) ventilation, both in normal use and configurable for control of smoke in the case of fire, see RAIB reports on previous fires. I believe it also has cooling by water pipes, to dissipate the heat from the locos (6MW apiece?) Guess it's the condensation into electrical control gear rather than the OHE itself, after all it does rain outside the tunnel. I can only help one person a day. Today's not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look too good either. Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 20/12/2009 at 12:49 #5168 | |
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computeringjl
29 posts |
wonder if there is any external backup electrical supply not only for the service, but the main tunnel itself and the trains that last fora few hours. Excuse me if there is any important info that i don't know. Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 20/12/2009 at 14:46 #5173 | |
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ralphjwchadkirk
275 posts |
computeringjl said:You go put some water in a socket while it's on - thats what caused the blackouts/ It was the condesation building up in electrical components on the train, not on the wires. Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 20/12/2009 at 15:44 #5174 | |
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computeringjl
29 posts |
why didn't this happen in the 14 years before??::
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| Eurostar break down 20/12/2009 at 17:20 #5175 | |
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ralphjwchadkirk
275 posts |
Because, quite possibly, the conditions for it happening were not present. The weather is a fickle thing! Slightly OT - but on CCLDB a service from Ramsgate was booked as 262 minutes late - looks like my signalling record! Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 20/12/2009 at 17:56 #5176 | |
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lpeters
160 posts |
To be honest though, back in February of this year there were similar conditions; in fact the same is true over the last 10+ years so the question does still stand... was it the wrong type of condensation? because I doubt that the conditions we've had over the last few days were any different to some that we've had since the tunnel was built so I honestly can't see how condensation can cause it to happen; when it hasn't happened before.
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| Eurostar break down 20/12/2009 at 18:08 #5178 | |
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UKTrainMan
1803 posts |
On a slightly related matter, rumours are that the model Claudia Schiffer was on-board one of the affected Eurostars. Apparently they brought a car right up alongside the train and allowed her to leave the train at Folkestone, as in at the entrance/exit from the tunnels, whilst the other 2,000 or so people didn't get such a VIP treatment as the aforementioned celebrity!
Any views and / or opinions expressed by myself are from me personally and do not represent those of any company I either work for or am a consultant for. Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 20/12/2009 at 18:43 #5180 | |
GeoffM
6376 posts |
It's certainly not the first time it has happened, though I note the spokesperson said "first time that FOUR trains..." (my emphasis). If it happens to five simultaneously I guess he could legally repeat the same statement and change the number appropriately. Back in I believe it was 2003, Mike Miles and I had been to a concert in Cologne. The Thalys from Cologne to Brussels was running late and we missed our connection to the Eurostar. The next one had been cancelled and it was a 2-hour wait for the one after that. Of course, they didn't tell us that until we were trapped in the departure lounge with one grotty snack bar and filthy toilets. Our train was eventually announced as running late, after it was due to arrive - and the delay was leaving London so they had a good 2.5 hours or so to know about it. When it did arrive they said it would be cleaned and the buffet restocked, then we could board. Once onboard the dirty train with a mostly empty buffet, we sailed through the swirling snow in northern France and dived into the tunnel. Shortly after passing the English crossovers we started to slow and eventually ground to a halt. There we sat for over 3 hours while they tried to reboot the train (or whatever), which involved shutting down the whole thing, lights and all (except battery emergency lights), several times over. Eventually a diesel engine came and dragged us out to Ashford where we were bundled onto a draughty Connex train at 3 o'clock in the morning on Christmas Eve. Just after Tonbridge we stopped to let a Eurostar pass... our supposedly failed Eurostar which had made a miraculous recovery... which we eventually saw again at Waterloo International. The fault? Melting snow that had gotten inside the vents shorting out the electrics. I suspect it's the direction that counts rather than the "wrong type of condensation", as in horizontal snow. Still, at least I got two return trips free out of them. SimSig Boss Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 20/12/2009 at 21:07 #5182 | |
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ozzyd9001
131 posts |
dident good old BR have this type of problem with there 91`s? wrong kind of snow?? and heres me and the wife and at least 30 other lincoln tennants freezeing as we have a build up off condensation in are c/heating boiler?? info curtasy c/heating repair man yours paul Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 22/12/2009 at 10:43 #5242 | |
Peter Bennet
5402 posts |
Once an engine attatched to a train, was afraid of a few drops of rain, it went into a tunnel, and squeaked through it's funnel, and wouldn't come out again! Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 22/12/2009 at 11:38 #5244 | |
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Adrian the Rock
111 posts |
... and the Fat Controller's doctor had forbidden him to push or pull! :lol:
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| Eurostar break down 22/12/2009 at 17:36 #5267 | |
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Osprey
35 posts |
I dont know if it was library footage they showed on the news,Im not sure of the locations as I had left London and South Eastern area before the Eurostars were running,but I nearly wet myself when they showed millions of quids worth of technology being pulled out of either a large semi circular shed or the tunnel by a 350hp shunting loco!!
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| Eurostar break down 22/12/2009 at 19:58 #5276 | |
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ozzyd9001
131 posts |
well from tonights bbc news footage the trains were running near normal and to prove it they showed a running eurostar entering the tunnel under its own power problem?? there wasent a single sign of the white stuff??? must have thowed out very quickly darrrn sarth?? HEHEHE:lol:^o yours paul ( arcive footage) Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 23/12/2009 at 09:44 #5290 | |
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David Russon
50 posts |
Ozzyd9001 I presume you are in Australia , basking in glorious sunshine , whilst we are shivering in the Uk - or are you an exile living in London? DavidR Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 23/12/2009 at 20:46 #5309 | |
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ozzyd9001
131 posts |
nope me shivering in lincoln lincs promise i saw the news footage last night tuesday on the 6oclock news made me giggle yours paul ps wish i was in the land of ozz Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 25/12/2009 at 11:09 #5334 | |
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Valiant15
23 posts |
Id like to know what modification they made to get them back working. You cant predict the weather i know but you would have thought in the design stage they would have considered that condensation may be an issue.
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| Eurostar break down 25/12/2009 at 21:08 #5337 | |
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Osprey
35 posts |
Heard the high tech soloution wa a squirt of WD40!
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| Eurostar break down 07/01/2010 at 11:25 #5563 | |
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UKTrainMan
1803 posts |
It has happened again (Link to a BBC News Article) although possibly a different problem.
Any views and / or opinions expressed by myself are from me personally and do not represent those of any company I either work for or am a consultant for. Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 07/01/2010 at 20:21 #5586 | |
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lpeters
160 posts |
Gotta laugh haven't ya =D I thought they'd fixed the snow issue last time so I can't see how they can possibly say it's snow... Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 08/01/2010 at 09:29 #5603 | |
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pilotman
189 posts |
I have a feeling it never was snow per se. The outside air is at minus 5 or so and the tunnel is plus 25. The outside electronics therefore get a condensation bath, which they don't care for perhaps? You would need to heat them or go slower to allow them to warm up naturally. Ray Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 08/01/2010 at 21:35 #5623 | |
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lpeters
160 posts |
So why hasn't it happened before when it's been +25 in the tunnel but -10/15 in France or -5/6 over here? EDIT: Also just an observation but both last month and this time; it only happened when there was snow around... isn't that strange? or just a coincidience? Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 08/01/2010 at 21:43 #5624 | |
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GeoffM
6376 posts |
lpeters said:So why hasn't it happened before when it's been +25 in the tunnel but -10/15 in France or -5/6 over here?http://www.SimSig.co.uk/index.php?option=com_agora&task=topic&id=407&p=1&Itemid=54#p2539 SimSig Boss Log in to reply |
| Eurostar break down 08/01/2010 at 22:47 #5625 | |
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lpeters
160 posts |
Geoff; I seriously doubt it's been +25 in the tunnel and -5/10 just outside only a few times. If it is to do with the temperature; we should hear about this atleast once every February in the UK and perhaps atleast once around December/January time at the France end. Sorry I meant to say "why hasn't it happened more before..." Log in to reply |