The opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994 turned the centuries old dream of a fixed link between the UK and mainland Europe into a reality. The Channel Tunnel is 50km long, with the 39km undersea section being the longest undersea tunnel in the world. On average, the tunnels lie 40 metres below the seabed of the English Channel.
The Channel Tunnel is sometimes known as the Chunnel. Soon after It opening in '94 it captured 48% of the freight market and 60% of the tourist market which makes it one of the market leaders for travel
Channel Tunnel - Eurostar
Eurostar is the fast rail service directly linking the UK to France and Belgium via the Channel Tunnel. It started operating in 1994, providing city centre to city centre services.
With the opening of the new UK fast line on 28 September 2003 the fastest return journey times have been reduced by 40 minutes. The fastest London-Paris journey time is now 2 hours 35 minutes, London-Brussels 2 hours 15 minutes and London-Lille 1 hour 40 minutes.
Eurostar runs up to 14 services to Paris and nine to Brussels daily. In addition, up to nine trains stop at Lille in northern France, and up to four services stop at Calais Frethun en route. Also, 14 trains call daily at the terminal at Ashford International, which serves as the principal passenger gateway from Kent via the channel tunnel to the continent.
From the UK via the Channel Tunnel with Eurostar there are direct daily services from Waterloo and Ashford to the gates of Disneyland Resort Paris and, during the winter holiday season, Eurostar operates two services every week from Waterloo and Ashford to Moutiers and Bourg St Maurice in the French Alps. Eurostar also runs a direct service to Avignon in Provence on Saturdays during the summer.
In addition, Eurostar offers connecting tickets to over 100 destinations across France, Belgium and the Netherlands. For example, Lyon can be reached in five hours from London and Marseille in seven hours. Brussels Midi is the gateway for the Netherlands with easy connections to Amsterdam (about six hours from London).
Since operations of the Channel Tunnel passenger train begun, Eurostar has more than doubled the total number of passengers travelling (by air or rail) between London and Paris/Brussels. Eurostar has checked-in over 50
Channel Tunnel - Eurotunnel
Eurotunnel manages the infrastructure of the Channel Tunnel and operates accompanied truck shuttle and passenger shuttle (car and coach) services between Folkestone, UK and Coquelles (Calais), France.
Eurotunnel is the market leader for Cross-Channel travel. Eurotunnel also earns toll revenue from other train operators (Eurostar for rail passengers, and EWS and SNCF for rail freight) which use the Channel Tunnel.
Eurotunnel's Channel Tunnel vehicle service offers the fastest route to France, crossing from Folkestone to Calais in just 35 minutes. Using Eurotunnel is so easy - just drive on and stay with your vehicle in brightly-lit, air-conditioned carriages. You can walk around inside the shuttle and toilets are available. Customs are cleared before boarding so you drive straight off and away when you arrive in France.
The Channel Tunnel shuttle runs four times an hour at peak periods and up to 53 times daily. Although Eurotunnel do not publish timetables, when you book you are allocated a time slot. Minimum check-in time is 30 minutes (1 hour when travelling with a pet), but there are a wide range of shops and restaurants at the terminals, especially on the Folkestone side, so leave some time to take advantage of these before proceeding to the departure area.
The platform to platform time is about 35 minutes and loading and unloading is quick and easy. The Folkestone Channel Tunnel terminal is easily accessible and as you drive down the M20 towards Folkestone the slip road to the terminal is clearly sign-posted.
Travelling to France with Eurotunnel is perhaps the least exciting of the cross channel options, but it is the most convenient and fastest option and there is little chance that you'll get seasick
How does the Channel Tunnel Operate?
Within the Channel Tunnel there are two single-track rail tunnels used for the Eurostar and Eurotunnel services, and a third smaller service tunnel that's also used as an emergency exit.
The Channel tunnel copies some of the Alpine mountain tunnels in carrying cars and trucks on drive-on/off shuttle trains. The vehicle transportation service by Eurotunnel - also known as 'Le Shuttle' share the tracks with high speed passenger trains run by Eurostar. All trains are electric, and while the Eurotunnel service competes head-on with the ferry services, Eurostar trains main competitors are the airlines, hence the slogan - Fly Eurostar.
History of the Channel Tunnel
In the beginning:
In 1802, French mining engineer, Albert Mathieu, put forward the first ever design for a Channel Tunnel, closely followed in 1803 by an English design by Henri Mottray.
In 1955, the British Defence Minister announced that he no longer opposed a fixed link on military ground, and in 1957 a Channel Tunnel Study Group was formed.
In 1960, the group proposed a railway tunnel system comprising two main tunnels and a service tunnel. The project was formally launched in 1973. However, the fuel crisis was to see the project abandoned in 1975.
Europont
A bridge with 5000 metre spans suspended by means of Kevlar cables, was soon eliminated on cost grounds (£6bn) and the fact that it was based on untried techniques.
Euroroute
Comprising both a drive-through bridge and tunnel system with artificial islands and a bored undersea rail tunnel.
Channel Expressway
A last minute submission consisting of both road and rail tunnels
Eurotunnel
This bid was based on the 1972-75 project with twin rail tunnels and a third service tunnel.
The Four Projects
On 30 November 1984, the British and French Government announced their intention to seek private promoters for the construction and operation of a fixed link without public funding. The invitation to tender was issued in March 1985 and four serious proposals were submitted by 31 October 1985.
Eurotunnel gets the go ahead
On 20 January 1986, Margaret Thatcher and François Mitterrand announced that the Eurotunnel bid had been selected. Three weeks later on 12 February the foreign ministers of both countries signed the Franco-British Treaty in Canterbury. On 14 March, the Concession was awarded, granting the two concessionaires "jointly and severally...the right and the obligation to carry out the development, financing, construction and operation" of the tunnel. On 29 July 1987 Margaret Thatcher and François Mitterrand ratified the Fixed Link Treaty, paving the way for the Channel Tunnel to become a reality.
