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Second time around
Page 3
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Given the paucity of hard facts, there seems little point in speculating as to what started the latest Channel Tunnel fire, What is beyond doubt is that this was the second major incident in Le Shuttle's operating history, and it is sure to reignite (and we don't use that word tightly) the debate over whether or not the choice of freight wagon an open latticesided carrier versus a more expensive covered wagon with its own self-contained fire control system was the right one.
No doubt, the pros and cons of each were studied by the rolling-stock engineers, risk managers, and accountants years ago. Only, in the light of this second fire, it will be interesting to see if, upon their retirement, the current generation of open-Lattice freight cars will be replaced on a 'like-for-like' basis. Whatever did start the fire, and if the previous blaze is anything to go by, it will take weeks, if not months, to determine the real cause, and its worth remembering that in both cases, the emergency evacuation procedures worked and there were no deaths.
Ultimately, what's needed is a clear understanding as to how to prevent a fire happening on a freight shuttle a third time. Thus, the subsequent investigation
must be thorough and unequivocal and any recommendations arising must be implemented swiftLy. In the meantime, CM will be following the advice of Peregrine Worsthorne (former editor of The Sunday Telegraph) who, once declared:
We all try to be wise before the event... 1 find it much easier to be wise after the event..." WIth so few facts to go on with the Chunnel fire, to do otherwise woutd simply be to create more heat than light...
Brian Weatherley