History
Problems
Construction
Trivia
100

Who were the first people to travel in the Channel Tunnel?

The President of UK Queen Elizabeth II and the President of France François Mitterrand.

100

Was the Channel Tunnel a financial success?

Not necessarily.

100

Who funded the megaproject?

It was entirely funded by private investors.

100

What was another proposed idea in stead of the tunnel?

An enormous 70 meter tall bridge.

200

When was the Channel Tunnel opened?

It was opened on 6 May 1994.

200

What happens if water gets in to the tunnel?

the water gets pumped out through pumping stations in the tunnels.

200

Who did the digging and where did they meet?

Both countries dug the tunnel and very impressively, both met in the middle.

200

How many tunnels is the Channel Tunnel made of?

It has 3 tunnels. One for getting from the UK to France, another for vice versa and a middle tunnel for maintenace purposes.

300

When was the idea of a tunnel from France to the UK first imagined and how did it work?

It was imagined the year 1802 and it worked by horse-drawn coaches. Oil lamps would light up the entire tunnel and there were also artificial islands to change horses along the tunnel.

300

When have there been evacuations due to fires?

In the year 1996 and 2008.

300

What piece of machinery was used to dig the tunnels and how many were used during the course of the project?

The Tunnel Boring Machine or TBM for short. A total of 11 machines were used.

300

How did they call the Channel Tunnel in Calais?

Le tunnel sous la Manche.

400

Why was the idea for the tunnel abandoned in 1883?

The British military raised fear that the tunnel could be used for attacks against Britain.

400

How was the air from the front of the train as it moved 'relieved'?

Through the piston relief ducts.

400

What are the tunnel walls lined and sealed with?

They are lined with cast iron or reinforced concrete and sealed with grout.

400

What are the rubber-tired miniature trains that are used for transport called?

The Service Tunnel Transport System or STTS for short.

500

How much did the channel cost in it's very first proposal?

The first proposal in 1856 costed 170 million francs or less than £7 million.

500

How much heat did the trains generate inside the tunnel?

The trains raised the temperature to around 122°  Fahrenheit or 50°  Celcius.

500

How did they cool the channel tunnel and to what temperature did it decrease?

They used Europe's largest cooling system. Enormous cooling plants were on either side of the tunnel. Miles upon miles of pipes containing chilled water go through the tunnel decreasing the temp to 95°  Fahrenheit or 35°  Celsius.


500

When was the last time on earth when people had a dry-land route across water to another country?

During the ice age.
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