does the volcano clouds stop trains and trucks too? not that I've heard

[ensho]

heard they were worried about their food supply getting in.

and people getting out. can't they train away? or car rental away?

can't food and supplies be trucked and trained in?

[NNN0LHI]

1. Only if the trains and trucks try flying through the ash clouds

[stray cat]

2. The difference between driving versus flying from Canada to Chili

[Historic NY]

3. After Mt. St. Helen's they needed special filters to run vehicles because of the soot & ash

that accumulates on the ground. I just don't know how widespread it is. The ash is like sandpaper.

[ensho]

4. ok, I see now. messes up all kinds of transportation

nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. No, not really

Aircraft are vulnerable because they take in vast amounts of air, which goes straight to the combustion chamber without filtering. There, the ash can melt (jets work at very high temperatures) and then solidify on the high-precision parts, causing chaos inside the engine.

Petrol and diesel engines have air filters, run at lower temperatures, and aren't so vulnerable. For mainland Europe, at least, the amount of ash is not comparable to Mount St. Helens and similar eruptions - the most they've shown on the ground so far was a very light dusting in the Shetland Islands, which just looked like the dust you'd get in an uncleaned room after a month or two.

Iceland itself might get problems with ground transport, right next to the volcano.

[ensho]

7. ok, so with filters food and people can be moved. good.

nt

[nickinSTL]

6. don't think so

I know of someone who was scheduled to fly from London to Denmark, and did get to Denmark, I believe by train.

I'm guessing he had to take the train to France and then over to Copenhagen.

Problem is, I doubt they have enough ground transport for all of the people and goods that usually travel by air to get moved in a timely fashion.

[TreasonousBastard]

8. I'm not sure if that's a real fear, but with the planes out the rail and road...

traffic must be horrendous.

I did hear NPR and BBC reporting about full trains and no reservations available. And they found someone who was trying to get to Prague and found out that not only couldn't they get a seat on the train (and there are lots of trains to Prague) but their car rental insurance wouldn't cover them in the Czech Republic.

It ain't easy over there right now.

[ensho]

9. I was thinking the rental cars would all be taken quick

nt