p14 Columnist Jan15 12/1/10 15:52 Page 14
news comment
ttglive.com
Mike Pearse ITV News
“It may be the worst winter
for 30 years, but it has
shown how poorly prepared
the transport industry is”
A
irports at a standstill, roads closed passengers at this difficult time”.
and Eurostar trains stuck because of Elsewhere, reports said the baggage crisis
the snow. Welcome to 2010. It may was back at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 and other
be the worst winter for 30 years, problems littered airports across the country.
but the start of the year has shown how poorly Eurostar was another disgrace. The fact that
prepared the travel and transport industry is five trains broke down was bad enough, but it
for such conditions. was the lack of information for those onboard
I was on the last flight allowed to land at that was inexcusable. The investigation into this
Gatwick before the big freeze shut the airport shambles must come up with recommendations
for almost 24 hours. By the time we had got our to make sure it never happens again.
bags, it seemed the entire airport was devoid It will look at the technical aspect of
of staff. When we came through customs the failure, but it must also ensure
and into arrivals, not a single member of passengers are kept better informed
staff was in sight and the airport infor- in times of disruption. The fact that
mation desk was closed. Passengers Eurostar staff cannot talk to their
formed a long queue for a single phone. own control room is a nonsense.
All this was within the first couple of All these events spell bad news for
hours of the heavy snow, so where were the travel industry. Now is the time it
the staff who had been on duty all day? should be telling the world how good
I’m afraid the usual excuse that em- things are and encouraging bookings
ployees were in the wrong place or for the spring and summer.
couldn’t get into work doesn’t wash. I am sure staff on the ground did all
This led to anger and frustration for they could to get things moving. The
passengers and those who had battled conditions were exceptional, but it is un-
through the snow to meet flights that acceptable for information to be so lack-
would now not arrive that night. Many ing and then totally inaccurate when it is
were left stranded and sleeping on given. Operators must learn the lessons
the floor, not knowing when they and put procedures in place to improve.
would travel. The UK travel system started the year as
When the airport declared it was the laughing stock of the world. We will
operational again, a row broke out with probably never invest enough to deal with
airlines over the limited movements. One the amount of snow we had, but we must
carrier said Gatwick was misleading passen- ensure passengers are treated better.
gers over how many flights were operating,
claiming that “the airport’s statements
implying it is fully open are not helpful to Mike Pearse is ITV News transport correspondent
14 15.01.2010
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