EU off the RAILS! Brussels gravy train to Strasbourg breaks down leaving MEPs STRANDED
HUNDREDS of MEPs and European Parliament staff have been left stranded for more than three hours as one of the two “gravy trains” carrying them to Strasbourg broke down just 15 minutes away from their destination.
More than 300 people were stuck inside rapidly heating carriages
before they were released into the French fields by train technicians.
But two hours later they are still waiting to be carried to destination, which is 140km far from where they were left, due to a power shortage of their train.
It is not clear whether the other train, carrying the other half of the parliament, has already arrived to destination.
Some of the passengers took to Twitter to call for help.
Lib-Den MEP Catherine Bearder explained the situation, writing: “No AC, no water, no food left (Don’t ask about loos).”
But two hours later they are still waiting to be carried to destination, which is 140km far from where they were left, due to a power shortage of their train.
It is not clear whether the other train, carrying the other half of the parliament, has already arrived to destination.
Some of the passengers took to Twitter to call for help.
Lib-Den MEP Catherine Bearder explained the situation, writing: “No AC, no water, no food left (Don’t ask about loos).”
Julia Reda, MEP for Germany’s Piraten Partei, said: This is ridiculous.
“If the charter train to Strasbourg breaks down, all work in the European Parliament breaks down.
“What a tremendous waste of resources and an affront to common sense!
“National governments: Give us a #SingleSeat now!”
Taina Mertalo, member of the staff of the European People's Party group in the parliament added: “Strasbourg train stuck somewhere near Metz with electricity problem!
MEPs have been left stranded for more than three hours after the 'gravy train' broke down
“If the charter train to Strasbourg breaks down, all work in the European Parliament breaks down.
“What a tremendous waste of resources and an affront to common sense!
“National governments: Give us a #SingleSeat now!”
Taina Mertalo, member of the staff of the European People's Party group in the parliament added: “Strasbourg train stuck somewhere near Metz with electricity problem!
The passengers were on their way to Strasbourg for the monthly plenary session
“No air conditioning, everything stopped! #oneseat #TrainDelay #Thalys #NoMoreStrasbourg”
And Andrew Ephraim Hillman, advisor in the EP on Digital Single Market to Dita Charanzová, a Czech MEP, said: “#soseurocrats EP train to Strasbourg broken down in the middle of the countryside with me. It is nice outside…”
Raphael, assistant to a French deputy, told French website Ouest France that “spontaneous meetings were organised between MEPs and assistants from different parties” - something he hasn’t seen “in ten years”.
According to the source, the politicians were debating about the safety of drones, the agreement on Iran's nuclear power and the pollution of trucks among other arguments.
The MEPs and their staff were on their monthly trip to Strasbourg that has been dubbed “EU travelling circus” and “EU gravy train”.
And Andrew Ephraim Hillman, advisor in the EP on Digital Single Market to Dita Charanzová, a Czech MEP, said: “#soseurocrats EP train to Strasbourg broken down in the middle of the countryside with me. It is nice outside…”
Raphael, assistant to a French deputy, told French website Ouest France that “spontaneous meetings were organised between MEPs and assistants from different parties” - something he hasn’t seen “in ten years”.
According to the source, the politicians were debating about the safety of drones, the agreement on Iran's nuclear power and the pollution of trucks among other arguments.
The MEPs and their staff were on their monthly trip to Strasbourg that has been dubbed “EU travelling circus” and “EU gravy train”.
The 'gravy train' has been criticised for its cost
An
agreement that goes back to the 1992 European Treaty wants MEPs to
travel monthly from Brussels to the EU’s second parliament in Strasbourg
to work from there for four days.
The MEPs, whose train was supposed to arrive at 12.30pm local time (11.30am GMT), should attend the plenary session starting later today.
The relocation of the MEPs and their staff for Strasbourg plenaries comes at an estimated cost of £130million every year.
Despite most MEPs blasted this mandatory monthly trip, the gravy train necessitates all of the 28 members to agree to be scrapped, and France made clear it would veto any proposal regarding it.
The MEPs, whose train was supposed to arrive at 12.30pm local time (11.30am GMT), should attend the plenary session starting later today.
The relocation of the MEPs and their staff for Strasbourg plenaries comes at an estimated cost of £130million every year.
Despite most MEPs blasted this mandatory monthly trip, the gravy train necessitates all of the 28 members to agree to be scrapped, and France made clear it would veto any proposal regarding it.
0 comments:
Post a Comment