Channel Tunnel dangers - why?

[eMeS]

I note that a guy has been arrested close to the UK border, after walking through the Channel Tunnel from France; and that tunnel operators and the media are saying it's dangerous. Why? Wikipedia shows a separate service tunnel, and I imagine that the doors to this are not locked just in case that route is needed in an emergency. So, what is the danger, or are we expected to simply accept what is being said?

 

[telstarbox]

Is this a wind up?

 

[TheKnightWho]

I note that a guy has been arrested close to the UK border, after walking through the Channel Tunnel from France; and that tunnel operators and the media are saying it's dangerous. Why? Wikipedia shows a separate service tunnel, and I imagine that the doors to this are not locked just in case that route is needed in an emergency. So, what is the danger, or are we expected to simply accept what is being said?

Do you know he went down the service tunnel?

 

[eMeS]

Do you know he went down the service tunnel?

No, I don't, and neither do I know how far it is before there are doors to the service tunnel. And I certainly don't know if the Channel Tunnel is provided with niches for railway staff to shelter in, should they get caught out.

 

[Jonny]

Is this a wind up?

It's all over the news, no joke:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-33803928

A Sudanese national has been charged after allegedly walking nearly the full 50.5 km (31-mile) length of the Channel Tunnel towards the UK.
The man was arrested close to the Folkestone exit on Tuesday, apparently after 11 hours inside the tunnel.
Abdul Rahman Haroun was charged with causing an obstruction to an engine or carriage using the railway and remanded in custody by Medway magistrates.


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Do you know he went down the service tunnel?

It sounds like he used one of the main rail tunnels... you might say criminal stupidity.
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It sounds like he is being charged under section 36 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861 (Obstructing engines or carriages on railways)

from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/24-25/97/section/36

Whosoever, by any unlawful act, or by any wilful omission or neglect, shall obstruct or cause to be obstructed any engine or carriage using any railway, or shall aid or assist therein, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the discretion of the court, to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding two years, . . .

 

[Darandio]

It's all over the news, no joke:

I don't believe telstarbox was asking whether the incident itself was a joke, more the fact that someone is asking if it's dangerous.

 

[Simon11]

I'm just amazed, it must have taken at least three hours of walking in the tunnel before they saw him walking through the tunnel. What if he were to plant a device?

 

[LAX54]

I note that a guy has been arrested close to the UK border, after walking through the Channel Tunnel from France; and that tunnel operators and the media are saying it's dangerous. Why? Wikipedia shows a separate service tunnel, and I imagine that the doors to this are not locked just in case that route is needed in an emergency. So, what is the danger, or are we expected to simply accept what is being said?

I understand he was in a running tunnel, and triggered alarms about 12 to 15 miles in, or so it's said, seems trains were stopped for over 4 hours.

I also see EUROTUNNEL are thinking of closing the tunnel overnight now, no problem for Eurostar, but the shuttles would suffer !

 

[fandroid]

The was a guy on the radio this morning who apparently designed the Chunnel security arrangements (they were mainly worried about rabid dogs in those days!). He said the doors to the service tunnel from the running tunnels could only be opened from the inside. I'll admit that sounded stupid to me, as someone trying to get away from a fire on a train would need to get through those doors. His main worry seemed to be the air blast from a passing shuttle would try to suck a walker off the safety walkway

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

The fact that someone has done this is very worrying news indeed.

 

[BestWestern]

I understand he was in a running tunnel, and triggered alarms about 12 to 15 miles in, or so it's said, seems trains were stopped for over 4 hours.

I also see EUROTUNNEL are thinking of closing the tunnel overnight now, no problem for Eurostar, but the shuttles would suffer !

Can they physically 'close' the tunnel? Does it have doors on it?!!

 

[duesselmartin]

so the man is in the UK now? Congratulations to him. He made it alive, unlike so many who drown. How desperate he/they must be to risk their lives!

 

[AM9]

so the man is in the UK now? Congratulations to him. He made it alive, unlike so many who drown. How desperate he/they must be to risk their lives!

That's right, it was a means to an end.
The voices of frenzy in the uproar against tunnel proposals in 1929 said:

"The doctrine of England's "splendid isolation" was cited in some quarters, and the fear expressed that quick and comfortable train journeys would make England a holiday resort for hordes of more or less undesirable people, who would introduce foreign customs, deface the countryside and otherwise interrupt English habits of living."

The full text is in this cutting from popular mechanics:
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=wN4DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA767&dq=Popular+Science+1930+plane+%22Popular+Mechanics%22&hl=en&ei=fxBvTp7pAoyhtwfhqq33CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=true
Some are still effectively saying "I told you so". It seems that parts of UK society haven't progressed much in 86 years.

 

[Antman]

so the man is in the UK now? Congratulations to him. He made it alive, unlike so many who drown. How desperate he/they must be to risk their lives!

I hardly think congratulations are in order for such an act of gross stupidity:roll:

 

[Bletchleyite]

Gross stupidity, or gross desperation?

 

[Antman]

Gross stupidity, or gross desperation?

Desperation to escape France?

Anyway the general section is probably the place for a discussion on that side of things but frankly anybody entering a tunnel when trains are running is a fool and their actions should not be condoned in anyway.

 

[DaleCooper]

Surely this was inevitable. Would it really cost that much to guard the entrances? If they are already guarded then someone's got some explaining to do.

 

[BestWestern]

Desperation to escape France?

Anyway the general section is probably the place for a discussion on that side of things but frankly anybody entering a tunnel when trains are running is a fool and their actions should not be condoned in anyway.

Precisely. I would argue that 'desperate' would likely consider the safety of France/Italy/Germany etc sufficient not to feel the need to walk 30 miles through a railway tunnel to continue on to the UK.

Anyway, as you say, a discussion for elsewhere!

 

[jon0844]

Frankly, I'd rather they came in legitimately and claimed asylum, then got finger printed etc, given ID cards and made to wait for a result - before being given citizenship or sent home (or back to mainland Europe).

Having so many sneaking in each day and NOT claiming anything, but rather just disappearing, is a far worse situation. Estimates range from 600,000 to 1.1 million such people. Even if you go for the lower estimation, it's still pretty staggering.

 

[swt_passenger]

... And I certainly don't know if the Channel Tunnel is provided with niches for railway staff to shelter in, should they get caught out.

It has a continuous evacuation walkway in the tunnel, at a platform height to allow use by all three types of train, i.e. passenger or freight shuttles and Eurostar.

Similar walkways appear standard in most recent newly built rail and underground tunnels in this country; so I expect the safety of the individual was probably a lot higher than in most traditional rail tunnels, despite the media concern.

 

[edwin_m]

It has a continuous evacuation walkway in the tunnel, at a platform height to allow use by all three types of train, i.e. passenger or freight shuttles and Eurostar.

Similar walkways appear standard in most recent newly built rail and underground tunnels in this country; so I expect the safety of the individual was probably a lot higher than in most traditional rail tunnels, despite the media concern.

The walkway is probably less than a metre wide and the aerodynamic forces would be highly dangerous if someone was still there with trains running at line speed. With all tunnel walkways measures are taken to ensure that trains cannot run when staff are on the walkway, except perhaps at very low speeds.