Eurotunnel accuses Eurostar over 'safety' lapse

Eurotunnel accused Eurostar staff of not following safety rules when evacuating passengers from high speed trains that broke down in the tunnel under the Channel last weekend.

Eurotunnel accused Eurostar staff of not following safety rules when evacuating passengers from high speed trains that broke down in the tunnel under the Channel last weekend.

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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.

"We have, here and there, been unjustly suspected of not acting as we should have done" after the breakdown, Eurotunnel said yesterday in a statement.

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 communications with the passengers.

"Although in continued contact with our teams, it is clear that the Eurostar teams obviously did not give the right information to passengers."

The statement added that this had "led to a movement of worry" in the affected trains where the passengers had no food or water.

In response to the claims, Eurostar said an independent review was underway "to establish exactly what happened."