Five Eurostar trains broke down inside Channel Tunnel on Fri- Weird reason given

[JEDI]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/12/19/channel.tunnel/index.html

"The five trains became stuck in the tunnel because the air inside was much warmer than the air outside the tunnel entrance"

WHAT?!

.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

I heard this on the news...

and wondered how the bad weather effected them in the chunnel.

it evacuated all 1,364 Eurostar passengers that were stuck after the trains "lost traction."

Sounds like the snow melted and got under the train wheels...

/facepalm.

 

[Gibsons]

Train gets very cold outside, reaches warm air inside = lots of water condensation. But if that's the reason, I wonder how well they deal with rain.

 

[Fritzo]

Probably due to track expansion.

 

[MastaTam]

Train gets very cold outside, reaches warm air inside = lots of water condensation. But if that's the reason, I wonder how well they deal with rain.

Doubt rain would affect it very much. Afterall, if it's raining, it can't be that cold.

 

[Acanthus]

Probably due to track expansion.

this, very cold train and warm tracks would mean the trains would be able to fall within the width of the tracks, losing traction.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

this, very cold train and warm tracks would mean the trains would be able to fall within the width of the tracks, losing traction.

Falling between the tracks like that would be rather similar to derailment... or "crash", rather than losing traction would it not?

 

[Born2bwire]

They're just too embarassed to admit that the real reason is because somebody put a penny on the tracks.

 

[Eli]

this, very cold train and warm tracks would mean the trains would be able to fall within the width of the tracks, losing traction.

Uh... whut?

You do realize that the expansion and contraction of metals due to cold is measured in hundredths of an inch, right?

You do realize that train tracks and their associated tires are inches thick, right?

These explanations make no sense.

 

[Acanthus]

Uh... whut?

You do realize that the expansion and contraction of metals due to cold is measured in hundredths of an inch, right?

You do realize that train tracks and their associated tires are inches thick, right?

These explanations make no sense.

Well it only says that they lost traction, not that they derailed.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

They should have used the remote start and let the trains warm up first.

 

[Rubycon]

Why isn't the chunnel interior air dewpoint maintained at more reasonable levels?

I have an oven to store my glass (camera lenses) in. It keeps them around 100°F. This prevents them from fogging up if I take them outdoors where the dewpoints can be in the 80°F range easy. Inside it's often 70°F sometimes near 64°F! They will fog in seconds if not preheated. MiniDV cameras will shut down (DEW warning!) within 60 seconds too. It's a real problem dealing with temperature change.

So if the loco was really cold and entered a warm tunnel/chunnel/whatever with sultry air it would sweat instantly. I don't know much about locomotive traction and if this would cause a problem (what about just rain?) however I've seen trains going backwards down slight grades due to ice on rails!

 

[Demo24]

"Mr Brown said the conditions caused condensation which brought about electrical problems in the tunnel."

It wasn't due to traction, something shorted out. It says the trains lost power so there was no a/c, toilets didn't work, and I assume only backup lighting if there even is any on those trains. If it was a traction issue it would have been a much shorter problem, besides you go down into the tunnel so the issue would be non-existent as it would level off.

It still doesn't make much sense though and one would expect this problem would have happened before.

 

[JEDI]

"Mr Brown said the conditions caused condensation which brought about electrical problems in the tunnel."

It wasn't due to traction, something shorted out. It says the trains lost power so there was no a/c, toilets didn't work, and I assume only backup lighting if there even is any on those trains. If it was a traction issue it would have been a much shorter problem, besides you go down into the tunnel so the issue would be non-existent as it would level off.

It still doesn't make much sense though and one would expect this problem would have happened before.

ding ding ding winner!

thus me saying "Weird reason given"

there's a conspiracy afoot!

Tin foil hat Activate!

 

[IronWing]

I blame the French! Farmers probably covered the tracks in cheese to protest what ever it is that French farmers are bitching about this week.