HOW SAFE WILL THE CHANNEL TUNNEL BE?

There are fears that the financial crisis might jeopardise safety standards. It appears that decisions on the design of the tunnel and its rolling stock are being taken in advance of safety assessments rather than as a consequence of them. Little is known of the safety precautions being considered because the authority has to balance the requirements of safety, convenience of passengers and commercial pressures. The key issue is that motorists and passengers will travel with their vehicles. It is argued that allowing people to stay in cars or coaches will make fires more likely and be more difficult to isolate and control. Experts estimate that primary safety of the tunnel will be satisfactory, but the secondary aspects give rise to concern that precautions may not be sufficient to prevent an accident becoming a disaster. A consultant's report suggests that as many as one-quarter of car passengers would not escape a serious fire. Also, it is possible that half the passengers travelling on a single-deck coach, and one third of those on a double-deck coach, would not escape. A factor that needs considering is that people do not react predictably in a fire and the selection of staff, their numbers and training will be critical. Other safety aspects examined include the attraction of the route to submarine saboteurs, the type of extinguisher to be used and the possible fire protection system. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02624079
• Corporate Authors:

  IPC Magazines Limited

  Holborn Group, King's Reach Tower, Stamford Street
  London SE1 9LS,   England 
• Authors:
  • Watts, S
• Publication Date: 1989-11-25

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 42-47
• Serial:
  • NEW SCIENTIST
  • Volume: 124
  • Issue Number: 1692
  • Publisher: REED BUSINESS INFORMATION LTD
  • ISSN: 0262-4079

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Fires; Protection; Safety
• Identifier Terms: Channel Tunnel
• ITRD Terms: 9011: Design (overall design); 3363: Fixed link (transmaritime); 8036: France; 744: Public transport; 1173: Rail bound transport; 1665: Safety; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00609636
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 30 1991 12:00AM