The channel tunnel forms an important train connection between the European mainland and the United Kingdom. It consists of a tunnel of more than fifty kilometers that runs under the English Channel, between scallops, near Calais in France and Cheriton, near Folkestone in the United Kingdom. The tunnel is operated by the Franco-British railway company Eurotunnel.
Info
The tunnel consists of three tubes, two tubes each with a track and a middle escape and service tube. Trains run on the left in both England and France, so it goes without saying that the North Tunnel is used in normal operation for traffic from the UK to France and the South Tunnel for traffic in the other direction. At one third and two thirds of the tunnel length, there are switches and connecting tracks between the two main tubes. This makes it possible to keep the other five sections in operation in the event of an accident in one of the six sections.
Construction of the tunnel began in 1986 and lasted seven years. It took 15,000 people to get the job done. The tunnel was officially opened on 6 May 1994 by the then President of France François Mitterrand and the British Queen Elizabeth II. The tunnel is managed and operated by the Eurotunnel company, which has been granted a 99-year concession.
Arrive
The Channel Tunnel is located on both sides of the highway. The route is well signposted on both the French and the United Kingdom side. Train passengers from the Benelux will generally use the Eurostar, a high-speed train that provides the connection between Brussels and London, with stops in Lille (Lille), Calais and Folkestone.
France and England (which belongs to the United Kingdom) are both currently part of the European Union (however, the United Kingdom is expected to leave the EU in early 2019). There is free movement of persons, goods and capital and no import and export duties are levied at the tunnel. There are therefore no customs formalities. But unlike France and the Benelux, England is not in the Schengen area. A different visa is required for the United Kingdom than for the Schengen countries, insofar as a visa is required (visa requirements exist for many nationalities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania, including Suriname and South Africa). That is why the border police on both sides of the Channel Tunnel strictly control passports. For train passengers, this already happens at the station where they board the train through the tunnel (often the Eurostar). Border control for motorists is similar to that of an international ferry: you drive through it by car. Border controls are passed for both countries before the car enters the train. After arriving on the other side of the Channel, train passengers are immediately free to continue their journey; as a rule, their train will then continue immediately. Motorists and their passengers are free to continue their journey after their car is off the train.
To buy
There is a terminal in which several shops are located on both the French and the United Kingdom side.
Food
There are also several dining options in the same terminals.
stay overnight
There are several hotels nearby on both sides of the Eurotunnel.
Safety
The tunnel is strictly secured on both sides.
It is possible to get out of the car during the train ride to stretch your legs, but it is advisable to stay in the car as much as possible. The car must be on the parking brake and in first gear (or park). The windows should be half open and when you leave the car you should never walk between the cars as it is possible for cars to start moving during the journey if their brakes are not applied properly. It is also advisable to stay close to your car in connection with possible theft.
In case of emergency, the train is evacuated. To do so, follow the instructions of the employees.
all around
| This article incorporates information from the Channel Tunnel on Wikipedia. See the page history there for the list of authors. |