the Chunnel英法海底隧道

英法海底隧道简介

the Chunnelthe Channel Thunnel

英法海底隧道简介

A brief introdution of the Chunnel

The Channel Tunnel (also referred to as the Chunnel) is a 50.5-kilometre undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent, in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-deCalais, near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover.

英法海底隧道简介

Strait of Dover

English Channel Tunnel

英法海底隧道简介

some aspects of the Chunnel

the origin and the completion three tracks a privately funded project incidents illegal immigration Eurostar as one of the operators TBM (also the "Catherine")

英法海底隧道简介

the origin and the completion

Because of the long-lasting Anglo-French Conflict, the project of building the tunnel has always been cancelled by the governments. In 1856, Aimé Thomé de Gamond, a Frenchman, presented a proposal to Napoleon III for a mined railway tunnel from England to France. An official Anglo-French protocol was established in 1876 for a cross-Channel railway tunnel. But the project was abandoned in May 1882, owing to British political and press campaigns advocating that a tunnel would compromise Britain's national defences.

英法海底隧道简介

In 1981 Margaret Thatcher and François Mitterrand, the French president, agreed to set up a working group to look into a privately funded project, and in April 1985 promoters were formally invited to submit scheme proposals. A government-funded project using tunnels for service was supported. But in January 1975, the British government cancelled the project. The government had changed to the Labour Party and there was uncertainty about EEC (European Economic Community) membership, cost estimates had ballooned to 200% and the national economy would be troubled. Queen Elizabeth II and the French president, François Mitterrand, presented in a ceremony in Calais on 6 May 1994. Following the ceremony President Mitterrand and the Queen travelled on Le Shuttle to a similar ceremony in Folkestone. A full public service did not start for several months.

英法海底隧道简介

three tracks

2 single track tunnels and 1 service tunnel

the service tunnel is between twin rail tunnels

英法海底隧道简介

a privately funded project The British Channel Tunnel Group consisted of two banks and five construction companies, while their French counterparts, France–Manche, consisted of three banks and five construction companies. The role of the banks was to advise on financing and secure loan commitments. On 2 July 1985, the groups formed Channel Tunnel Group/France–Manche (CTG/F–M). Their submission to the British and French governments was drawn from the 1975 project.

英法海底隧道简介

incidents On 18 November 1996, a fire broke out on a heavy goods vehicle shuttle wagon in the tunnel but nobody was seriously hurt. The exact cause is unknown, although it was not a Eurotunnel equipment or rolling stock problem. On 11 September 2008, a fire occurred in the Channel Tunnel at 13:57. The incident started on a freight-carrying vehicle train travelling

towards France. The event occurred 11 kilometres from the French entrance to the tunnel. No one was killed but several people were taken to hospitals suffering from smoke inhalation, and minor cuts and bruises.

英法海底隧道简介

On 3 August 2007, an electrical failure lasting six hours caused passengers to be trapped in the tunnel on a Eurotunnel shuttle crossing. In December, 2009, Eurostar trains stranded in the tunnel due to melting snow affecting the trains' electrical hardware

英法海底隧道简介

illegal immigration

The French Red Cross opened a refugee centre at Sangatte in 1999, using a warehouse once used for tunnel construction; by 2002 it housed up to 1500 people at a time, most of them trying to get to the UK.

英法海底隧道简介

Most immigrants who got into Britain found some way to ride a train, but others used Eurostar. Though the facilities were fenced, refugees would even jump from bridges onto moving trains. In several incidents people were injured during the crossing; others tampered with railway equipment, causing delays and requiring repairs. Eurotunnel said it was losing £5m per month because of the problem. A dozen refugees have died in crossing attempts.

英法海底隧道简介

Eurostar

TBM (also the "Catherine")

英法海底隧道简介

In 1994, the American Society of Civil Engineers elected the Channel Tunnel as one of the seven modern Wonders of the World.

And other wonders are

英法海底隧道简介

CN Tower

Empire State Building

Panama Canal

英法海底隧道简介

Itaipu Dam

Golden Gate Bridge

Delta Works

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