THE CHANNEL TUNNEL

After a century of discussion, traffic volume and engineering technology have made the construction of a channel tunnel feasible at a total cost of 468 million pounds at 1973 prices. The tunnel, as proposed, would run from Cheriton, England, to Frethun, near Calais. It would actually be 3 tunnels--two each carrying a single railway, and a service tunnel in between. Electrically powered trains would carry both freight (containerized and as truck ferry) and passengers. A new rail route would connect the tunnel to London where a new terminal would be built. Through service would be offered to both Paris and Brussels. The tunnel is to be financed primarily by fixed interest loans, plus at least 10 per cent risk capital. The rate of return is expected to be between 14 and 17 per cent. Control after completion would be vested in an Anglo-French Authority. It is expected that the Tunnel will provide substantial benefits to British Railways, because rail connections will be much smoother than current shipping patterns. For this reason no increase in industry immediately around the tunnel is expected. Some reduction in demand for trucking is seen once the tunnel is open. This drop will offset the increase in rail traffic in terms of environmental effect.

• Corporate Authors:

  Department of the Environment, England

  Saint Christopher House, Southwark Street
  London SE1 0TE,   England 
• Publication Date: 1973-9

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 75 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Economic analysis; Intermodal transportation; International trade; Tunnels
• Identifier Terms: British Rail; Channel Tunnel; Societe nationale des chemins de fer francais
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Economics; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00072059
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Systems Center
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 6 1976 12:00AM