ICE3 at STP.

[whole diary]

[Brucey]

Train has arrived, there is now a short video on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) News website
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11567753

[Tim]

I think the perceived danger is that a 400 metre train will always stop beside an escape door thus passengers detraining will have a train beside them on the whole length of their walk.

that is the issue, and although Grahame is right to question this requirement in comparison with domestic tunnels, it needs to be remembered that the Chunnel has had 3 serious fires already.  Mind you, I think that the last one demonstrated that escape into the service tunnel isn't straightforward even when there is an escape door near as smoke and confusion can prevent efficient evacuation to it.  Proper signage, and the availability well trained staff would IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion) be much more important factors in an evacuation.   

[Electric train]

The tunnel and train safety systems were designed over 20 years ago, technology used in trains has changed, lessons (should have) learned especially from the shambles last winter on how to evacuate and or rescue a train.

I feel that a new operator wanting to move in will raise the game of the existing operator, it will also open up the market for new rolling stock at 20 years old the Eroustar fleet is over half life given the time for procurement and testing of new trains the process needs to start soon.

With DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about) proposal to operate trains through the tunnel may be they might act out Edward Watkin's dream and run a train over his London extension using a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) that DB already own

[paul7575]

With DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about) proposal to operate trains through the tunnel may be they might act out Edward Watkin's dream and run a train over his London extension using a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) that DB already own

Nice idea, but I'd suspect there's little likelihood of DB rebuilding any UK^▸ (United Kingdom) infrastructure to meet their gauging requirements, or buying UK gauge 'toy trains' to run on the continental network...



Paul

[onthecushions]

Came through Londres Midi at 1750, today, Tuesday 19/10, off EMT^» (East Midlands Trains - about) and saw the ICE. Very impressive if a bit retro in style - rather VW beetle in fact.

Like French Eurostars that show the logo "SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways)" on their noses, it sports plenty of proud "DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about)" signs (means German Federal Railways).

If a National Railway is an icon of national (and ruling class) competence then it reflects badly on our betters.

I'm glad to see the Europeans working into UK^▸ (United Kingdom) - just incandescent with those traitors who destroyed our National Railway.

OTC

[willc]

the Chunnel has had 3 serious fires already

All three of which started on lorry shuttle trains which didn't have fire suppressing equipment on them, which doesn't strike me as very hyper-safety-conscious, given the serious damage that two of them did.

Nice idea, but I'd suspect there's little likelihood of DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about) rebuilding any UK^▸ (United Kingdom) infrastructure to meet their gauging requirements, or buying UK gauge 'toy trains' to run on the continental network...

You might be surprised. The ICE-T (for tilt) and the ICE-TD (diesel variant) do have smaller body profiles and could well fit on much ex-GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) infrastructure

I posted the following back in December 2008 in a thread about electrification where clearances were mentioned in the context of future use for Turbos.

Getting slightly off-topic, the current issue of Today's Railways Europe says that when DB stored its tilting ICE-TD DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) in 2002-3, an unnamed UK operator did go to look at them with a view to using them on ex-GWR routes, because the tilt capability meant they are slightly narrower than your typical European train and would fit through Brunel bridges. The stumbling block was their length, at 27m more typical of Europe, which meant they would foul curved platforms

[eightf48544]

Intersting last comment willc re 27 mtr coaches wasn't IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) meant to be 26 m?

[willc]

Indeed, which would have required something to be done to the platforms at places like Bath and Bristol Temple Meads, to name but two.

Should perhaps add that the ICE-TD is Germany's answer to the Adelante, just 20 built and a rather chequered record, thought they do seem to have settled down in recent years, working Hamburg-Denmark services. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICE_TD

[willc]

And what should have just landed in my inbox, quite by coincidence I'm sure, but an email from Eurostar, urging me to use its services to reach Cologne...