Channel Tunnel

The Channel Tunnel, colloquially known as the Chunnel, serves as the only fixed rail link between Great Britain and continental Europe. This 50.46-kilometre engineering marvel connects Folkestone in the United Kingdom with Coquelles near Calais in France. Construction began in earnest in 1988 after decades of planning that dated back to 1802, eventually costing approximately £4.65 billion. The entity managing this infrastructure was originally established as Eurotunnel on June 20, 1993, before rebranding to Getlink in 2023 to reflect its expanding role as a broader European transport operator.

Getlink manages three distinct traffic streams through the three parallel tunnels: high-speed passenger services, vehicle shuttles, and freight trains. Eurostar carries millions of passengers annually, while the LeShuttle service transports cars and coaches in just 35 minutes. In 2017, these operations moved over 10 million passengers and 2.6 million vehicles, exceeding the volume handled by ferry operators at nearby ports. The infrastructure includes two main rail tunnels and a smaller service tunnel, with 37.9 kilometres running beneath the sea floor.

Recent regulatory shifts have altered the competitive landscape for passenger travel. As of August 2026, Virgin Trains received official approval to launch international services through the tunnel starting in 2030. This marks the first time since inception that a second operator will run passenger trains on the line, challenging Eurostar's long-standing dominance with plans to deploy up to 20 new daily trains. The move aims to lower fares and increase capacity on routes connecting London, Paris, and Brussels. [edit]