Train operator Eurostar will invest 35 million Euros ($47 million) to prevent a debacle like that which resulted from a series of breakdowns in the undersea tunnel between France and Britain last December. That money will go toward a new communications system in the tunnel, the purchase of two new rescue locomotives, and improved protection for train components.

The announcement followed the release on Friday of an independent review ordered by the British and French governments. The report slammed Eurostar's train maintenance and crisis management procedures. The company didn't adequately prepare for the snowy, cold weather, it said, and had "no plan in place" to deal with the breakdowns.

Some of the trains lacked snow screens for the electrical cars, which allowed fine snow to get into the engines and enabled condensation to build up and short circuit the electrical system. Stranded passengers reported that they were not kept informed about what was happening, and were often given conflicting information.

Overflowing toilets, overheated cars

The breakdown of the five trains December 18 and 19 left more than 2,000 passengers without food, water, air conditioning, lighting or proper toilet facilities for hours. When passengers on one failed train were finally put on a rescue train, they had to designate one car as an open toilet.

Tens of thousands of other travelers who were scheduled to take delayed or canceled trains were offered little or no information about what to do next.

"If a train breaks down and passengers have to be rescued or evacuated, this must be done with greater speed and consideration, and more comprehensive emergency plans should be put in place," said the report's authors, former train company boss Christopher Garnett and civil engineer Claude Gressier.

Eurostar, which is jointly owned by French state rail operator SNCF, Belgium's SNCB and British government-owned LCR, has accepted the review's 21 recommendation and issued an apology.

"We fully accept that the handling of the disruption was unacceptable and are very sorry for the inconvenience and discomfort that we caused to our passengers," Eurostar said in a statement.

svs/Reuters/AFP
Editor: Rob Turner