Drum roll please......Babajane announces the completion of her 100 th op!!!(Two weeks in the writing) and to mark this auspicious occasion I have also gone to great length to ensure both a sensible and remarkable op for your perusal. I decided it wouldn't be out of place to choose something that fell into this months comp. category and something that heralded the completion of an amazing and innovative dream(like me making it to 100 ops), so grab your coffee (or tea), pull up a pew and let's get on with the deed.
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***A dream was born***
Stepping back to a time when Bonaparte had finished battling and was just establishing peace with the British, a visionary dream was born. A dream that would continue, fading in and out of realistic possibilities for nearly two centuries. It was in 1802 that a french mining engineer first documented this dream with the first design for the channel tunnel, a tunnel that would make it possible to cross from France to England without use or need for boats. It was an incredible dream and one that even in my own lifetime was felt impossible.
***The history***
Closely following the first evidence of the concept of this amazing tunnel, English designer Henri Mottry developed his own design for the tunnel. Following the advent of steam train construction of the British railway network gave rise to ideas of the tunnel being designed for the passage of trains, and as 1830 approached the first proposal for a rail tunnel came about,Thome de Gramond would go on to work on the design for it for 7 years.
However, it was 1880 before the first ever constructions began on the project, using the Beumant and English boring machine, but the project was abandoned within a few years.
Between the 1880 and 1945 many more projects attempted to realise the dream but none of them were to elevate beyond the drawing board.
1955 saw the British defence minister lift the opposition on military grounds to the building of the channel tunnel that had been raised during the wars. This combined with the moving times in construction development resulted in the Channel tunnel study group being formed in 1957, and by 1960 the group had proposed a railway tunnel system. Construction began in 1973 but was left abandoned two years later as a result of the fuel crisis.
Although things had seemed pretty dormant during the following years, ideas were still floated around government tables until in 1984 the British and French governments announced plans to seek private investors for a fixed link without public funding (in other words, a tunnel built without any money directly from the countries coffers). The invite to tender was issued in March 1985 and by October of the same year four serious proposals had been submitted.
On July 29th 1987 Margaret Thatcher and Francois Mitterrand ratified the "fixed link" treaty and the channel tunnel was again becoming a reality.
Commencing the construction, 11 boring machines costing up to £20 million each and weighing up to 1,200 tons ate their way through the chalky earth, whilst 150 locomotives hauled away the processed mud. (One of the boring machines can now be seen at the entry to the Folkestone terminal).
1994 saw the dream fully realised when the channel tunnel, measuring 32 miles in length and costing over £14.7 billion, finally opened.1 year over schedule,Eurotunnel declared debts of £925 million as it opened it's prodigy for buisness,but by 1999 it declared its first net profit. Not only was the dream born and realised, it had also become a thriving business that the 20th century could marvel at.
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***Today***
The channel tunnel, more commonly known as the "chunnel" is today running and providing us with our first direct link with the continent. A thriving business and an alternative mode of travel to France and beyond for holiday makers, travellers and buisnesses, the tunnel provides a train transportation service for both people and vehicles. Although its main terminals are in Folkstone and Callais, travel by train can be commenced at London and goes right through to Paris.
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***Travelling via channel tunnel***
Eurostar-
Eurostar offers the longest distance rail services that run through the tunnel. Whilst it is a pedestrian only service (although folded bicycles are allowed), they offer good parking facilities at reasonable rates at all travel points.
Currently offering 24 trains per day to Paris and 10 through to Belgium, they have departure points at Ashford and London, with destination points at Paris,Lille,Callais,Brussels,Amsterdam and Berlin to name but a few. Booking is possible either on-line via their website http://www.eurostar.com or through you local travel agent.
Prices vary hugely depending on the service and points of travel, but a basic one day return ticket from London to Paris will start from around £99 and goes upward accordingly.
Travel times also vary hugely depending on your destination and departure points, but a guide is three hours from London to Paris.
Booking on-line is relatively easy with their website offering route planners, travel guides, special offers and much more. They will even help you locate and book hotel accommodation for your trip. The site is user friendly and easy to navigate, as is processing your ticket purchase.
As I have only booked tickets via the website and not yet actually travelled I'm afraid I can only report second-hand the quality of the actual service and trip, although my parents were impressed by cleanliness, service and staff on the train they travelled on, reporting no problems or gripes about their trip.
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Euro-tunnel -
Travelling directly through the chunnel with your vehicle is limited to travel between Folkstone and Callais terminals for the public, with the Freight (truck stop) being located at Ashford.
Bookings can be made via their website http://www.Eurotunnel.com or again through any travel agents. You can even book at their Folkestone office in advance or for same day travel.
Prices range from £9 for a late afternoon return ticket (ideal for quick shopping sprees),£59 for a three day return ticket(for those short breaks),right up to £402 for 5 day+ club return ticket(for longer holidays).Most quoted prices include a car and up to four passangers,although your specific needs can almost always be met.
The journey itself takes around 35 minutes including loading and unloading, although you need to book in at least half an hour before your travel time.
Booking on-line is very easy and here again a route planner is available, along with information services, journey instructions, language options and suggested places to visit on your trip. Again their website is easy to navigate and use, with payment processing being simple and clear. Their special offer section is excellent and not only do they have many discounted rates, they also offer incentives such as free wine or discount vouchers, add this to the fact that on-line bookings receive a minimum of £2 discount and you have some excellent options to look at.
Facilities at the terminals include a building that offers shopping, currency exchange, travel insurance, refreshments and toilets. You can even pre order goods for collection at the French terminal for collection on your return journey.
When it comes to making your journey you will load directly on to the train in your vehicle and that is where you will remain for the rest of the journey. The carriage your car is in is accessible to you, so you don't have to sit in your car for the whole trip although if you want to you can, and to be honest other than stretching your legs there's nothing much to be gained by wandering around the train carraiges,although radio is available in them.Every third carriage does have a toilet which you can access(if you can squeeze along the corridor). At the end of your journey you just drive off the train and drive through the customs and passport control (provided they don't want to search your vehicle) and off you go on your travels.
At the Callais terminal it's worth knowing that not only are you delivered almost next to Euro city shopping area, but there is a minimarket, petrol station and toilets almost as soon as you get to the road.
As with almost everything, there are problems. The most notable one using the tunnel is the fact that whilst being parked up for your half hour pre loading time, you are parked in an area with no shade at all. In the warm summer weather this can get very hot and if you are unfortunate enough to have your train departure delayed then it can mean roasting in you car like a turkey in the oven!! Another problem is that it can be confusing in the loading area and it's hard to be able to tell when it is your turn and time to load onto the train. Although the staff have always been friendly and helpful when I've used the tunnel, finding staff to ask whilst in the loading area can be hard.
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Delays or service interruptions have been fairly frequent in the past on both the Euro star and Eurotunnel, many of these attributed to the illegal entry attempts into this country by refugees and asylum seekers. However with the abolition of Songat these incidents have already decreased significantly and are likely to become even less frequent.
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***The future***
Whilst the channel tunnel and Euro star services are fully operational, today’s vision does not stop there. A £7.8 billion construction is already underway on a new, high speed rail link between London and the tunnel, where it will link up with existing high speed tracks in France and Belgium. When this project is completed trains should be able to travel at up to 300 kmh, reducing significantly journey times. Presently this additional project is expected to be completed by 2007, replacing the existing rail tracks built over 100 years ago.
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***Summary***
Over 200 years ago, before the invention of electricity, motor cars or even the bic biro(ok, I’m being silly now) a vision was created. The vision was immense even by today’s standards and incomprehensible in the terms we know it today. That vision faced problem after problem, not only was the construction the biggest feat of engineering known to mankind to date, but the costs, political oppositions and resources needed were unequalled in any one single project. As each attempt to realise this dream was thwarted another attempt was instigated, until at the very end of the last centaury the once impossible project came to fruition.
Today when we have aeroplanes and ships that make world wide travel possible, we have another efficient and alternative way of getting to our destinations.
Travelling through the channel tunnel is on the whole, efficient relatively inexpensive and a very practical way to travel to France. The experience of doing so may not be the most picturesque journey you'll ever take, but it is a journey that can be marvelled at.
*** Thankyou for reading ***
More details
Speed of trains
Fast
Safety of trains
Safe
How extensive is their Rail Network?
Average
How well does it cater for disabled people?
Poorly
Ticketing System
Satisfactory
Value for Money
Good
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