History of the Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel has been named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. It is a 50.5-km-long tunnel that runs beneath the English Channel to connect England and France. Some of the fastest trains in the world run through the tunnel, which has marked a milestone in transportation within Europe. The Channel Tunnel has a long and detailed history, which is outlined here.
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The Plan
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The Channel Tunnel Group/France--Manche, a group of French and English banks and construction companies, sent in a proposal for the Channel Tunnel in 1985, based on a plan devised in 1975.
Approval
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In 1987, both the French and British governments gave their approval to the project. The French government gave unanimous approval, while the British government held multiple hearings before approving the project.
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Opening
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The service tunnel began construction in 1990 without any ceremony. By 1994, the Channel Tunnel was completed on time and opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
Problems
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Problems with illegal immigrants traveling into Great Britain have been ongoing. There have also been three major fires that have caused the Channel Tunnel to close down in 1996, 2006 and 2008.
Modern Day
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The Channel Tunnel reopened in February 2009 after the 2008 fire that closed it. It continues to run full services between the two countries for passenger and freighter trains alike.
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