Following the earlier release of the ERA’s report on its recommendations for changes in safety regulations in the Channel Tunnel, Alstom have release this statement:
“The safety regulations in the Channel Tunnel are under the sole responsibility of the Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC).
“The technical position of the European Rail Agency (ERA) states that the operation of distributed power trains in the tunnel could be considered – a point never challenged by Alstom – provided that it can be demonstrated that this rolling stock is as safe as the current Eurostar trains, which means that appropriate safety studies and tests should have been made. Alstom was not informed that such studies and testing have been carried out.
“The debate in progress on the safety regulations further underlines that it was not possible for Eurostar to carry out a fair tender and to select a train while the technical framework of the offers was not and is still not known.”
