About our Channel Tunnel news
Latest news on the Channel Tunnel, also known as the Chunnel or Eurotunnel, a 50.46-kilometre (31.35 mi) underwater railway tunnel that connects Folkestone (Kent, England) with Coquelles (Pas-de-Calais, France) beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. It is the only fixed link between the island of Great Britain and the European mainland. At its lowest point, it is 75 metres (246 ft) below the sea bed and 115 metres (377 ft) below sea level. It has the longest underwater section of any tunnel in the world (37.9 kilometres or 23.5 miles) and is the third longest railway tunnel in the world. The speed limit for trains through the tunnel is 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph).
NewsNow's coverage of the Channel Tunnel serves as your all-inclusive source for breaking news, in-depth evaluations, and expert perspectives. From operational updates and maintenance schedules to economic impacts and geopolitical considerations, we've got you covered. Whether you're interested in travel advisories, freight transportation, or the tunnel's role in broader European relations, our continuously updated feed ensures you're always in the know.
The idea of constructing a tunnel under the English Channel was revived in 1986 by the United Kingdom and France. A rail tunnel was chosen over proposals for a very long suspension bridge, a bridge-and-tunnel link, and a combined rail-and-road link, and the project was privately financed by a consortium of British and French corporations and banks; the Anglo-French company operating the tunnel is called Eurotunnel. Digging began on both sides of the Strait of Dover in 1987–88 and was completed in 1991. The tunnel was officially opened on May 6, 1994. Passengers can travel either by ordinary rail coach or within their own motor vehicles, which are loaded onto special railcars. Trains can travel through the tunnel in about 35 minutes.
In 2007, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), also called High Speed 1, was opened to connect the Channel Tunnel with London, facilitating even greater movement of international passenger traffic between mainland Europe and the United Kingdom. The high-speed railway runs 108 km (67 miles) and crosses under the Thames. Its trains can reach speeds of up to 300 km (186 miles) per hour.
On Friday, September 8, 2023, a security incident occurred at the Channel Tunnel terminal in Folkestone, Kent. A suspicious vehicle was stopped during a routine security check at around 10:30 am and explosives experts from the British army were called to the scene. A man was detained in connection with the incident and a cordon was put in place for the safety of the public. This caused severe disruption to traffic approaching the terminal and delays to travellers using the tunnel. Eurotunnel advised customers to check their website and social media for the latest travel information and to modify their travel plans if possible. The incident was not linked to the manhunt for Daniel Khalife, an escaped prisoner who was being sought by police in Kent.