AlexNL
Established Member
- Joined
- 19 Dec 2014
- Messages
- 1,683
There are lots of invisible checks on Eurotunnel.
Problem for me is that whatever damage could be done on a Eurostar could equally be done on most other trains. So why does the Eurostar have security when the others don't?I am no terrorist but I reckon I could do a lot more damage on a Eurostar than I could on the shuttle.
You could possibly damage the tunnel more with a really big car bomb, but I am guessing they have checks you don’t notice for making sure you don’t have one of those, and you wouldn’t kill that many people (which unfortunately is the big headline grabber). Gun and bomb on a ES train and you are really going to make headlines.
Problem for me is that whatever damage could be done on a Eurostar could equally be done on most other trains. So why does the Eurostar have security when the others don't?
Problem for me is that whatever damage could be done on a Eurostar could equally be done on most other trains. So why does the Eurostar have security when the others don't?
Then there is the risk of an armed hijack of a Eurostar train in the tunnel itself.
I think it would have to be a fairly large bomb to cause enough damage. As far as I'm aware the HGV fires didn't threaten structural collapse although they spalled the concrete and closed a bore for some months, and the 7/7 bombs didn't cause any structural damage to the tunnels themselves.Could damage be done to the tunnel itself if a bomb was timed to go off when a train was in it?
Then there is the risk of an armed hijack of a Eurostar train in the tunnel itself.
There is next to no actual risk posed by that because what are you going to do with it? You can't fly it to Syria looking for a ransom or whatever they used to do with hijacked airliners.
And price wise have you tried to look an Edinburgh to london on the day? It’s just as dear as Eurostar!
are there so many differences between the Channel tunnel and the new Gotthard base tunnel ?
1. Gotthard has emergency access at Faido and Sedrun, approx a third and two thirds along. Channel tunnel intermediate access points beyond Shakespeare Cliff are either non-existent or top secret. 2. The political history of Switzerland is very different to that of France and the UK. 3. Both goodies and baddies appreciate the discretion excercised by the Swiss banking industry.That’s a fair question to be asking those operators.....though are their trains as long?
That is further than London to Paris or Brussels. Not only that, the cheapest walk on return is £147.40, valid for departures leaving London between 0906 and 1459, considerably less than the usual £150+ single on Eurostar.
What's your point? The £147.40 fare is not valid on the Eurostar or on any of the flights from London to Paris or Brussels, or on any other form of transport between those cities. How is it relevant to anyone making such a journey?
But exactly the same could happen in the Severn tunnel for example, or even between stations on the Underground.You don’t see a problem with 1,000 passengers being trapped in the middle of the tunnel with some armed men? That would be one long, very high profile, very disruptive, siege. With next to no access I imagine even the SAS wouldn’t fancy an assault until there was no choice and then passenger survival is going to be largely a result of terrorist ammunition capacity.
And all pretty much totally preventable with simple security checks and just 30 extra minutes.
But exactly the same could happen in the Severn tunnel for example, or even between stations on the Underground.
Channel tunnel intermediate access points beyond Shakespeare Cliff are either non-existent or top secret.
Are you forgetting about the service tunnel and the access points to the running tunnels every 400m?
Pull the PASSCOM on an HST in the tunnel and you’ll come to a grinding halt.Severn Tunnel is much shorter and is a single bore. Can a passenger even stop a train in there?
I wasn't the one making the comparison with the fare to Edinburgh. But certainly the on the day fare to Brussels or Paris is out of the reach of almost all people other than the very rich.
No...that's similar to the gotthards cross passages (though not into service tunnel but other running tunnel). Really I was hoping someone would take the bait of the undersea emergency exits.Are you forgetting about the service tunnel and the access points to the running tunnels every 400m?
You don’t see a problem with 1,000 passengers being trapped in the middle of the tunnel with some armed men?
Who would gain what?
As I said, it's about bombs.
I have no problem with subsidising the Eurostar and regulating it like a domestic train. Then you can have cheaper walk on fares. I'll sign that petition. But let's be clear - if you want cheaper short notice fares that's what needs to happen.
Out of interest, would posters here also like to see airline fares subsidised and regulated in the same way?
Actually, IRA terrorist action has always been about publicity and sometimes hostages assist in that. Bombs are a quick way to get attention domestically, but a hostage situation on an undersea international train grabs the attention of at least three national governments before the nationalities of any passengers are taken into consideration. Many of those could be tourists of business passengers from who knows where!Who would gain what?
As I said, it's about bombs.
Actually, IRA terrorist action has always been about publicity and sometimes hostages assist in that. Bombs are a quick way to get attention domestically, but a hostage situation on an undersea international train grabs the attention of at least three national governments before the nationalities of any passengers are taken into consideration. Many of those could be tourists of business passengers from who knows where!
Out of interest, would posters here also like to see airline fares subsidised and regulated in the same way?
This is far too early. Surely they could at least have later trains departing both Brussels and Paris just after 23:00 (European Time) which would arrive in London just after 00:00 (British Time). It makes it rather annoying for passengers who have to leave earlier than they would like to (especially those travelling on day trips).