When did the Channel Tunnel open?
Quick Answer
The Channel Tunnel linking England and France was officially opened on 6 May 1994 by Queen Elizabeth II and French President François Mitterrand.
The Full Story
Ideas for a tunnel under the English Channel date back to 1802, but construction of the modern tunnel began in 1988. British and French workers met in the service tunnel on 1 December 1990, the first land link between Britain and mainland Europe since the Ice Age. The system has three tunnels: two for trains and a central service tunnel. It is about 50 km long, with around 38 km under the sea, the longest undersea section of any tunnel in the world. Eurostar passenger trains started running between London and Paris and Brussels in November 1994.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"Digging under the sea to join two countries — the story of the Channel Tunnel."