Issue 65 - tre march 2010:Rail Engineer New Design 22/2/10 10:11 Page 19
march 2010 | the rail engineer | 19
feature
Graeme Bickerdike
reports
blocs. However these were not adequate to 9057’s power cars had
cope with the build-up of snow no snow screens - this
experienced that evening. The power cars set encountered the
were designed at the same time as the most serious technical
tunnel was built and the designers did not problems. Screens
fully take into account the implications of its were not fitted on the
specific atmospheric conditions. motor blocs of 9157;
On 18th December, five motor blocs failed neither did they cover
on Eurostar 9157 as a result of electronics the whole of the walls
failures on two blocs, arcing on one motor through which the
T
OS: BRIAN STEPHENSON
bloc inductor, a fault on a voltage detection ventilation air passed.
PHO
circuit and over-voltage. 9053 lost traction It was also possible that snow
due to motor bloc and electronics failures. blocked the space between the louvres in “Our duty now is to
Three motor blocs failed on train 9057 the walls of the power cars and the snow ensure that we quickly regain the trust of
following an electronics failure, arcing from filters, preventing air from passing through. our customers” insists Chief Executive On 20th December,
an inductor and over-voltage. It then lost a As the fans are so powerful and draw so Richard Brown. “My immediate priority is to Eurostar sets
fourth motor due to over-voltage in the much air, the air currents then enter via implement the plan to deliver on the review undergo test runs
power factor corrector circuits in the other routes resulting in snow accumulating recommendations and drive the new near Charing, Kent.
common blocs. Eurostar 9055 initially lost near the doors and being blown along the corporate structure through to completion.
one motor bloc through arcing from an gangways. It became apparent that the Together with the other measures…this will
inductor; three more then failed following a power car doors were not adequately secure the operational robustness and
series of similar events as well as arcing in sealed. quality of service that our customers rightly
the power factor corrector circuits. A digital According to the review, urgent measures expect.”
data network fault caused 9059 to break have already been implemented in Rarely has the reputation of a train
down. response to these incidents; others need to operator taken such a sudden and violent
All these incidents were initiated by a be carried out before next winter. In the hit. If it is to be rebuilt to previous heights,
large quantity of fine snow entering the longer term, the design of the ventilation Eurostar has a considerable climb ahead of
power cars, sucked through the ventilation and cooling has to be reviewed, as does the it. Passengers will demand evidence that
system to the electronic control cabinets protection of sensitive components from such an appalling series of events cannot
and the electronic components of both the snow and water. possibly repeat itself.
common bloc and motor bloc. When it Cubicle for
melted, all the circuits were affected, Eurostar’s response computer and
causing a large number of electronic For the outset and to its credit, Eurostar’s
signalling equipment
failures. management has been unequivocal in its
Remarkably, the electronic control cabinet apology for the events of 18th December.
Transformer
does not have a door, leaving it entirely This will of course be cold comfort to the
open to the build-up of snow, as are some poor souls on board its trains. The company
of the control electronics in the common described the review’s findings as
and motor blocs. Snow also accumulated in comprehensive and its board is committed
the pantograph well, resulting in the surface to implementing all the recommendations
Common bloc
above the motor blocs becoming very cold. as quickly as possible. Going forward, this
The resulting condensation dripped onto will involve an investment of £18 million to
the inductors which caused arcing to the improve the trains’ resilience to severe
surrounding metal, particularly that of the winter conditions.
roof and the reinforcing struts. To ensure that all necessary modifications
are identified, Eurostar is to establish a
Maintenance and winterisation technical group of engineering specialists
Rheostatic
Unsurprisingly, the review found that involving Alstom and SNCF. It will carry out
brake fans
these failures were a consequence of a feasibility study, consulting with other
deficiencies in the winterisation measures. railways operating in challenging weather
This was confirmed by tests carried out in and long tunnels. The solutions
the days that followed. Routine recommended by the review will then be
maintenance procedures were also deemed carried out as part of the trains’ mid-life
to be lacking. Insufficient account had been overhaul although many specific needs
taken of the potential weather conditions must already have been determined in
Motor blocs
and ageing nature of some components in order to cost the programme of works.
the power cars. The motor units failed to Officially, no news has yet emerged as to
combine powerful ventilation with the need what these might involve but talk of self-
for protection of sensitive components contained carriage air conditioning units Top view of a
against water ingress. has been doing the rounds. Eurostar power car.
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