Chunnel Tunnel Facts
The Channel Tunnel between France and England, a true feat of man-made technology, took a long time to construct and overcame a number of obstacles in the process. Since its creation and opening, however, the tunnel has provided a valuable link between the European mainland and the island of England. Like any major undertaking, the Channel Tunnel, also known as the Chunnel, comes with a number of facts and history to its name.
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History
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The Channel Tunnel was first proposed as a concept in 1802, but political differences between the two countries involved kept the idea from becoming a reality until nearly 200 years later. Actual construction by Eurotunnel finally broke ground in 1988, and the pathway was officially opened in 1994. The Chunnel's ultimate cost, 4.6 billion British pounds, was almost twice its original estimate.
The Construction Process
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Using mining and hole-boring equipment, the work teams started digging from both England and France, intending to meet in the middle as the excavation occurred. In the process, 10 construction employees were fatally injured, with the majority of accidents occurring at the beginning of the project. The actual physical connection in terms of a raw hole was punched through in October 1990. The official ceremony occurred several weeks later amid cameras and media fanfare.
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Basic Construction Statistics
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The Channel Tunnel, or Le Tunnel Sous la Manche in French, stretches a long 50.5 kilometers underwater from Folkestone, Kent, in England to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais, France's northern region. Only the Seikan Tunnel in Japan exceeds the length of the Chunnel. This 31.4-mile-long rail link exists under the millions of gallons of seawater that flow through the English Channel daily. The deepest point in the link is approximately 75 meters (246 feet) below sea level.
Uses of the Tunnel
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The most important use of the tunnel is the railway line run by Eurostar. The Channel Tunnel provides a link between High Speed 1 and LGV Nord train lines. The Chunnel is currently operated by Eurotunnel under a 65-year lease/operation/concession agreement with England and France. The two governments own the tunnel. The train access is based on agreements between Eurotunnel, British Rail and Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais, establishing an exchange of profits for taking up what is essentially half of the tunnel width.
Ongoing Issues
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The Channel Tunnel has been the subject of a number of problems. Chief among them has been how to handle fires when they occur deep inside the tunnel, including evacuation issues. Secondly, illegal immigration concerns have arisen, with illegal immigrants using the tunnel to travel from France to England.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit inside of train in finland image by circotasu from Fotolia.com
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