The Channel Tunnel idea was first suggested to Napoleon Bonaparte, back then it would have been part of an elaborate invasion plan. A similar idea began in England but progress did not get more than a few feet. With the necessary technology and funding the development began with a treaty signed between Britain and France in 1986. In 1988 work began on constructing the tunnel with digging being started from both Folkestone in south east England and near to Calais in northern France.

Nearly 13,000 workers were employed on the project with three tunnels needing to be dug measuring some 95 miles in total. The average depth of the tunnel is 150 feet or 45 meters below the sea. Eight million cubic meters of rock and soil were removed, at the rate of 2,400 tons per hour. On completion there were three interconnecting tunnels. One service tunnel with a rail tunnel either side carrying passengers and freight in either direction. The price of the project was around $15 billion.

After the breakthrough in 1990 a small underground ceremony took place before the assembled TV cameras recording the occasion. French and British flags were exchanged as well as a toast of champagne. The tunnel was not yet complete  and  final construction of the project took another four years. It opened for passenger services on May 6th 1994 with the inaugural run being completed by the British Queen Elizabeth II and the French President Francois Mitterand. Eurotunnel, a company formed to operate the running of the tunnel has a 55 year concession. The high speed rail link sees trains operating from London to Paris, Brussels and beyond via the tunnel. The tunnel runs for 31 miles, 23 of those are under water and the journey takes around 20 minutes. The Channel Tunnel is the second longest rail tunnel in the world behind the Seikan Tunnel in Japan.