Damning report on Eurostar's winter failures highlights need for deregulation
Posted, February 12, 2010 @ 00:00
Damning report on Eurostar's winter failures highlights need for deregulation
Today's report a "shocking indictment" on Eurostar performance - Ashworth
Brussels, 12th February 2010 --- Conservative MEP for Kent Richard Ashworth is calling the report into Eurostar's delays this past December a "shocking indictment" on the company's performance.
Today's report, commissioned by Eurostar, states ageing and poorly maintained trains were responsible for the chaos caused when five Eurostar trains broke down on December 18th, as they were ill-prepared for severe winter weather.
2,000 passengers were trapped within the Channel Tunnel for up to 16 hours when the trains failed and at least 40,000 others saw their travel plans disrupted by the subsequent 3-day-long suspension in Eurostar service at the height of the busy Christmas season
The reports authors also criticise Eurostar for failing to react well to the crisis, with staff leaving passengers without information, food or water for hours at a time.
Mr Ashworth said:
"With ever-more stringent airport security measures, the figures show that people are increasingly choosing to travel to Europe by rail. Rail travel is the mode of the future, yet this report shows that Eurostar is not living up to the demands of its customers.
"Deregulating our airlines broke the monopoly of the major carriers, bringing more choice in destinations and cheaper tickets. If Eurostar were open to competition, customers would be able to penalise such poor performance by switching to one of its competitors.
"The Christmas debacle has shown more than ever that Eurostar needs competition. If a company is allowed to become complacent, ultimately only consumers will suffer."