THREE main areas which need improvement are being explained at a major Eurostar media briefing in London today. The results of the independent review into the pre-Christmas crisis are being unveiled, as Eurostar continues to struggle with its bid to restore confidence.

The three points which have gained the most attention are train reliability, evacuation and rescue procedures, and managing disruption. One of the two leaders of the independent review, former Eurotunnel director Christopher Garnett, has been telling his audience that it was not appreciated immediately that the first train of the five which failed actually had a problem.

He has been spelling out the details of the problems which caused five trains to stall on the UK-bound track on 18 December, having travelled through heavy snow in northern France. Snow has been blamed for penetrating engine compartments and causing short circuits.

Mr Garnett has also been explaining how conditions were particularly bad on a train from Eurodisney near Paris, because there were many children and babies on board. He has been describing how emergency doors were opened on the train in a bid to reduce the increasingly high temperatures inside.

The briefing is continuing.