CHANNEL TUNNEL

A handshake 30 years ago seals the deal as a tunnel between France and the UK finally meet – paving the way for an efficient form of travel we almost take for granted today

- Janet Brice

A handshake between two men. You might think there is nothing unusual about this simple gesture, but 30 years ago Englishman Graham Fagg and Frenchman Philippe Cozette greeted each other deep under the English Channel as their two tunnels finally met after years of blood, sweat and tears

This historic breakthrough of the Channel Tunnel, 22.3km from the UK and 15.6km from France, took place at exactly 12.12pm on 1 December 1990 and at a cost of £4.65 billion (equivalent to £12 billion today). Fours years later it was officially opened by the Queen and President Mitterrand who hurtled through the longest undersea portion of any tunnel in the world as they connected their respective countries.

Today, the 50-kilometre tunnel is used to carry highspeed Eurostar passengers and the Eurotunnel Shuttle for road vehicles. Each day an average of 60,000 passengers, along with 4,600 trucks, 140 coaches and 7,300 cars ping back and forth between the two coastlines.