History
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.
Was the Channel Tunnel a financial success?
Not necessarily.
Who funded the megaproject?
It was entirely funded by private investors.
What was another proposed idea in stead of the tunnel?
An enormous 70 meter tall bridge.
When was the Channel Tunnel opened?
It was opened on 6 May 1994.
What happens if water gets in to the tunnel?
the water gets pumped out through pumping stations in the tunnels.
Who did the digging and where did they meet?
Both countries dug the tunnel and very impressively, both met in the middle.
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.
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.
When have there been evacuations due to fires?
In the year 1996 and 2008.
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.
How did they call the Channel Tunnel in Calais?
Le tunnel sous la Manche.
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.
How was the air from the front of the train as it moved 'relieved'?
Through the piston relief ducts.
What are the tunnel walls lined and sealed with?
They are lined with cast iron or reinforced concrete and sealed with grout.
What are the rubber-tired miniature trains that are used for transport called?
The Service Tunnel Transport System or STTS for short.
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.
How much heat did the trains generate inside the tunnel?
The trains raised the temperature to around 122° Fahrenheit or 50° Celcius.
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.
When was the last time on earth when people had a dry-land route across water to another country?