Driving in France would never be the same without the Channel Tunnel and I would never take my Motorhome to France any other way so I’m not sure why I missed this when it was announced in February. I’m working on the basis that others may have missed it and in any case it’s a very appropriate time to publish it with spring here and thoughts of travelling abroad coming into my head more and more.
Channel Tunnel back to full capacity during night of 9-10 February
During the night of 9-10 February 2009, Eurotunnel will reopen Interval 6 of the Channel Tunnel*, the section in which re-equipping works – specifically the installation of the catenary – are currently being completed.
With a series of tests planned for the start of next month**, full Tunnel capacity is about to be restored, barely three and a half months after reconstruction works began*** and significantly ahead of initial forecasts. From this date, Eurotunnel Shuttles and Eurostar trains will be able to travel through the Tunnel at their normal commercial speeds, instead of the current reduced speeds.
Eurotunnel’s reactivity has ensured that reopening of Interval 6 comes before Valentine’s Day and the start of half-term holidays in the UK: a traditionally busy period.
* Booking is now available for the new capacity on the Passenger Shuttles;
* From 10 February, the number of departures for Truck Shuttles will be able to increase to 6 per hour in each direction;
* Eurostar, which must reschedule its trains, will communicate separately on the date of its service change.
Jacques Gounon, Chairman of Eurotunnel, stated: “I congratulate all those involved, from Eurotunnel’s teams and the companies selected by the Group. They have delivered the restoration of interval 6 in record time. This performance means we can restore the speed and ease of Channel crossings that make Eurotunnel a unique product.”
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* The Channel Tunnel consists of three tubes, two of which are used for the circulation of trains and Eurotunnel Shuttles. The two rail tunnels are split into 6 intervals. Since 1 October, and following an incident at the start of the preceding month, 5 of these 6 intervals have remained operational.
** Subject to validation by the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) and the Safety Authority.
*** The works in interval 6 started on 18 October. Up until this date, the Channel Tunnel was under the control of the French judicial authorities, as part of their ongoing inquiry.
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While I was looking on the Channel Tunnel website I had a search around and found a little potted history of the Tunnel conception and build.
1802 – 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 proposal by Henri Mottray.
1830 – From 1830, the advent of steam trains and the construction of the rail network in Britain led to the first proposals for a rail tunnel. By the mid 19th century, French mining engineer, Thomé de Gamond had spend 30 years working on seven different designs.
1880 – The first attempt at a tunnel excavation began in 1880 when the “Beaumont & English” tunnel boring machine began digging undersea on both sides of the Channel.
1909 – Louis Blériot was the first to fly an aeroplane across the Channel.
1955 – In 1955, the British Defence Minister announced that he no longer opposed a fixed link on military ground.
1957 – On 16 July, a Channel Tunnel Study Group was formed.
1960 – In July 1960, the Group proposed a railway tunnel system comprising a twin-bore rail tunnel with a service tunnel.
1973 – The project was formally launched in 1973 by Edward Heath, British Prime Minister, and by George Pompidou, French President.
1975 – The project was abandoned at the beginning of 1975 due to the fuel crisis.
1985 – The invitation to tender was issued in March 1985 and four serious proposals were submitted by 31 October.
1986 – 20th January – Margaret Thatcher and François Mitterrand announced that the Eurotunnel bid had been selected.
1986-12th February – Foreign Affairs Ministers of both countries signed the Franco-British Treaty in Canterbury.
1986 – 14th March – The Concession Agreement was awarded to the two concessionnaires «The Channel Tunnel Group Ltd / France-Manche SA» for a period of 55 years.
1986 – 13th August – Formation of the Eurotunnel Group. Signature of the construction contract between Eurotunnel and TransManche Link (TML)
1987 – 29th July – Margaret Thatcher and François Mitterrand ratified the Treaty of Canterbury, paving the way for the Channel Tunnel to become a reality.
1987 – 15th December – Boring of the service tunnel starts on the UK side.
1988 – 28th February – Start of service tunnel boring on the French side.
1990 – 1st December – British and French teams achieved the first historic breakthrough under the Channel, in the service tunnel, 22.3 km from the UK and 15.6 km from France.
1991 – 22nd May – Breakthrough in the North rail tunnel.
1991 – 28th June – Breakthrough in the South rail tunnel.
1993 – 10th December – Handover from TML to Eurotunnel.
1993 – 1994 – Equipment installation and testing.
1994 – 6th May – Official opening by Queen Elizabeth II and French President François Mitterand.
1994 – 1st June – First international freight train in commercial service through the Channel Tunnel
1994 – 25th July – Start of commercial truck shuttle service.
1994 – 14th November – Start of the commercial Eurostar service through the Channel Tunnel.
1994 – 22nd December – Start of the commercial passenger shuttle service for cars.
1995 – 21st March – Opening ceremony of the commercial centre Cité-Europe, next to the Coquelles terminal.
1995 – 26th June – Start of the commercial shuttle services for coaches.
1995 – 29th September – Start of the commercial passenger service for camper vans and caravans.
Source : Official Channel Tunnel Website
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