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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Channel Tunnel
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The first agreement between France and Britain to cooperate in the construction of a tunnel beneath the Channel was signed in 1875, after some 20 years of preparatory work by engineers – including at the start Brunel and Robert Stephenson. The scheme soon foundered and was not revived until 1957. Discussions and reports led to an announcement in 1966 that work would begin in 1968 and that the tunnel would be open by 1975. In the event no serious progress was achieved until the mid-1980s, when a firm commitment was made to a privately funded twin-track rail tunnel (with drive-on facilities for cars).
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At Lille in January 1986 and at Canterbury the following month Mrs Thatcher and President Mitterand met to complete the formalities. The company undertaking the project was Eurotunnel, and the contractors carrying out the work were a consortium of ten British and French firms operating together as Transmanche Link (subsequent disputes over cost between these two groups amounted to sums in excess of £1bn).
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Drilling through the chalk sea bed began at points northeast of Folkestone and southwest of Calais. In October 1990 the two tunnels met and the first narrow borehole was broken through to link them. Meanwhile there had been much confusion and controversy about the route of the rail link for high-speed trains from the tunnel to London, with the result that a fully effective British service will be delayed long after the French equivalent. The tunnel was officially opened by the Queen and President Mitterand on 6 May 1994. Freight trains began passing through during the summer, but technical problems delayed a full passenger service until later in the year.
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