The Channel Tunnel, more commonly known as the Chunnel, is a route beneath the English Channel that connects England and France. Stretching underground for 31 miles, the tunnel contains a rail line that allows travelers to reach the other side of the channel in roughly 20 minutes compared with a 45-minute ferry trip over the traditional rough channel. Eurostar trains handle traditional commuter service for the Chunnel, while The Eurotunnel Le Shuttle allows guests to bring their vehicles while traveling.
The Eurostar Train
The Eurostar Train (eurostar.com) has been serving as one of the Chunnel's primary passenger trains since the underwater route's completion in 1994. The company specializes in connecting travelers from locations around Great Britain to countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France via high-speed trains that can reach in excess of 180 mph. Eurostar trains offer three different classes of travel and run up to 24 times per day between London and Paris during the peak season.
The Eurotunnel Le Shuttle
The Eurotunnel Le Shuttle (eurotunnel.com) is a Chunnel train that allows travelers to cross beneath the English Channel while in their personal vehicles. It's more of a ferry than a commuter train, and passengers drive their car, truck, van or motorcycle directly onto the train cars for the 35-minute trip between Folkestone, England, and Calais, France. Once aboard the train, passengers can choose to stay inside their cars or get out and stretch their feet in the air-conditioned motor car. When the train arrives at their destination, passengers drive off the train car to their destination.
The Chunnel is made up of three interconnecting tubes -- two rail tracks and a service road. The stations in Folkestone and Calais are not situated on the coast, but instead are several miles inland. Only 23 miles of the Chunnel track is underwater. Be aware that all passengers, as well as any pets with which you are traveling, need to have a valid passport when traveling through the Chunnel.
Building the Chunnel
Though the idea of creating a tunnel underneath the English Channel connecting England and France had been around since the times of Napoleon, it was not until 1981 that a plan was firmly put in place for the project. With workforces starting at each side of the channel, construction of the Chunnel began in 1988 and took six years to finish. The tunnel officially opened on Nov. 14, 1994. At its deepest point the Chunnel sits at 150 feet under the seabed.
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