ISSUED BY PETER SKINNER, LABOUR MEP FOR THE SOUTH EAST REGION

 Peter Skinner MEP , 99 Kent Road, Dartford DA1 2AJ

Tel: 01322 270345 , Mobile: 07976 969912

For immediate release                          Friday, 12 February 2010

“No excuses for Eurostar” says Ashford MEP

Following Eurostar’s admission that its handling of the disruption to services in December was unacceptable. Peter Skinner, EuroMP for the Ashford area has said that

“Eurostar must implement all of the Independent Review’s recommendations without delay and no excuses!”

“To leave 2,500 passengers stranded in a tunnel for five and half hours is completely unacceptable.

There can be no denying that Eurostar were completely unprepared for the recent weather conditions and its ill-handling of the situation is completely below standard and in no way a sign of the world class international rail service that Eurostar pertains to be and that people in the area deserve.”

Mr Skinner welcomed Eurostar’s decision to implement the Independent Review’s recommendations and to invest in better safety infrastructure to ensure there is no repetition. “The high speed rail link between the South East and Europe is an important symbol of our region’s competitiveness and openness to the rest of Europe.”

ENDS