FRANCE: SKIERS UNFAZED BY RECENT AUSTRIAN TUNNEL BLAZE CONTINUE TO BOARD FUNICULAR RAILWAYS THROUGHOUT THE ALPS
Record ID:
647723
FRANCE: SKIERS UNFAZED BY RECENT AUSTRIAN TUNNEL BLAZE CONTINUE TO BOARD FUNICULAR RAILWAYS THROUGHOUT THE ALPS
- Title: FRANCE: SKIERS UNFAZED BY RECENT AUSTRIAN TUNNEL BLAZE CONTINUE TO BOARD FUNICULAR RAILWAYS THROUGHOUT THE ALPS
- Date: 14th November 2000
- Summary: TIGNES, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 14 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV/MV: SKIERS APPROACHING FUNICULAR TRAIN STATION (2 SHOTS) 0.10 2. VARIOUS OF FUNICULAR ARRIVING (3 SHOTS) 0.35 3. SV: HEAD OF TIGNESS SKI-LIFTS SYSTEM BERNARD GENEVRAY SPEAKING TO FUNICULAR DRIVER 0.42 4. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (French) GENEVRAY SAYING: "In our rules, we have regular controls, annual controls. A very meticulous examination, which we did on October before the opening of the ski season. It is a very important safety check of 15 days. So all our installations including our evacuation systems have been checked. Mr. Gayssot (French Transport Minister) reaction following the accident of Kaprun is understandable and we fully agree; I'll meet my colleagues, heads of similar ski-lift companies of the Savoy region tomorrow, to consider what action can be taken after the result of Kaprun's inquiry. We cannot understand how this kind of vehicle, which was built entirely with fireproof materials, could set fire." 1.30 5. VARIOUS OF SKIERS ENTERING FUNICULAR (3 SHOTS) 1.44 6. SCU: FUNICULAR SECURITY DOORS CLOSING 1.50 7. CU: FUNICULARS DRIVER PUSHING START BUTTON 1.53 8. SV: FUNICULARS DEPARTURE FROM INTERIOR 1.58 9. SCU: EXTERIOR VIEW OF FUNICULARS DEPARTURE 2.07 10. TRAVELLING SHOT: VIEW OF TUNNEL FROM INSIDE THE FUNICULAR 2.14 11. TRAVELLING SHOT: VIEW OF RAILS 2.20 12. VARIOUS SKIERS INSIDE FUNICULAR 2.26 13. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLISH SKIER SAYING "We are not afraid of taking the train but the accident in Austria was a terrible disaster, I can say nothing else" 2.35 14. SV: SKIERS INSIDE FUNICULAR 2.43 15. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANOTHER ENGLISH SKIER: "I never had a problem with it (funicular). I have been coming to Tignes for the last 3-4 years, I have always been on the train so... hopefully the same kind of thing wont happen. You just have to carry on, ski, that's the way up so..." 2.54 16. VIEW OF TUNNEL AND DRIVERS CABIN WITH EXIT DOOR (LEFT) 3.01 17. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (French) CABLE-CAR DRIVER SAYING "I feel sorry for them (victims of Kaprun). I feel safe here, its very safe". 3.12 18. TRAVELLING SHOT: VIEW OF TUNNEL 3.20 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 29th November 2000 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: TIGNES, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Reuters ID: LVACHZ0EV3E0EGH2NXC7QRGCBV9B
- Story Text: Skiing enthusiasts - apparently unfazed by the Alpine
tunnel blaze that killed up to 160 skiers in Austria's
deadliest peacetime disaster - continue to board funicular
railways throughout the Alps to pursue their favorite sport.
In the French resort of Tignes both tourists and locals
described the catastrophe as tragic but said that it would not
stop them enjoying their skiing.
Skiers appeared unfazed as they boarded a funicular
railway in the French resort of Tignes on Tuesday (November 14),
just a few days after the disaster in Austria which claimed
up to 160 lives.
Dozens of skiers packed onto a funicular train to head
for the slopes.
Bernard Genevray, head of the ski-lift system at Tignes,
said he is confident with the safety of the train but added
that he agreed with the call of French Transport Minister
Jean-Claude Gayssot on Monday (November 13) to carry out
renewed safety checks.
Genevray said: "In our rules, we have regular controls,
annual controls. A very meticulous examination, which we did
on October before the opening of the ski season. It is a very
important safety check of 15 days. So all our installations
including our evacuation systems have been checked. Mr Gayssot
(French Transport Minister) reaction following the accident of
Kaprun is understandable and we fully agree; I'll meet my
colleagues, heads of similar ski-lift companies of the Savoy
region tomorrow, to consider what action can be taken after
the result of Kapruns inquiry. We cannot understand how this
kind of vehicle, which was built entirely with fireproof
materials, could set fire."
French Transport Minister Jean-Claude Gayssot called for
safety checks on the country's funicular railways on Monday
after the tragedy in Austria at the weekend.
On Tuesday British skiers traveled on the funicular
railway to the French resort's ski slopes as usual.
One British skier said: "We are not afraid of taking the
train but the accident in Austria was a terrible disaster, I
can say nothing else."
Another said: "I never had a problem with it (funicular).
I have been coming to Tignes for the last 3-4 years, I have
always been on the train so... hopefully the same kind of
thing won't happen. You just have to carry on...that's
the way up so..."
The cable-car driver also appeared unconcerned. She said:
"I feel sorry for them (victims of Kaprun). I feel safe here,
its very safe. "
Tignes' funicular railway, completed in 1993, runs entirely
through tunnels, to an altitude of 3030 meters in just six
minutes. It carries 3000 people/hour.
In Austria people in the tourism industry worry once again
that another accident which made headlines around the world
will hurt bookings, and possibly give an advantage to
competitors - in other countries.
Austria has closed five other Alpine railways temporarily
as a safety precaution and the glacier ski area above the site
of the fire will be shut for 10 days.
Tourism officials from across Austria will hold crisis
talks with the federal government in the nearby city of
Salzburg on Wednesday to discuss strategies for limiting the
fallout.
Swiss media say standards are stricter on their side of
the Alps. The Metro Alpin in Saas Fee, which also climbs up a
tunnel, has surveillance cameras and mid-tunnel exits.
But Peter Huber, operations director of the rack railway
inside Germany's highest mountain the Zugspitze, said he would
reassess security once the cause of the Austrian blaze was
known, echoing promises by French officials to tighten checks.
But he said safety features, like cave-style shelters at
regular intervals inside the tunnel, set his railway apart.
Austria's resorts are also under pressure from
environmental groups angered by the intensive development of
mountains for profit, which can weaken their structure and
cause snowslides.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None