A quick search tells me that the chunnel is a little over 31 miles in length, at the deepest it is about 75 meters below sea level (about 250 feet.) There are actually three tunnels, two for trains, and one in the middle for support functions and an emergency escape route. The trains pass through at up to 100 miles per hour, typically the crossing takes about 20 - 25 minutes.
I have been through the chunnel four times. The Eurostar high speed trains pass through it between London and the continent. There are also trains that shuttle cars and small trucks back and forth, I have never done that.
A common question is what is it like? It is a train ride in the dark, not unlike an other train ride at night or through a tunnel - except the tunnel is a bit longer. The ride is smooth. There is some noise, as a high speed machine is passing through a concrete tube.
What to you see? The photo above is what we could see looking out the window, our reflection in the glass. The chunnel is dark inside, there is minimal safety lighting, if you watch really carefully you can see the lighted signs for the cross over into the service/emergency tunnel between the two train tunnels (assuming you are on that side of the train.) You really don't see much.
How was it built? Tunnel boring machines. Cutting heads like the one below started at both sides and met someplace near the middle. As I recall the alignment was within inches. One of my great grandfathers was a tunnel builder, he would have been amazed at these machines. In his day, it was shovels and explosives, few lived to old age, he died shortly after I was born. 100 years ago, they would start at both ends and meet in the middle, sometimes a few feet off, but close enough to align the two parts.
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| This TBM was used in a massive drainage project in the DC area, and was removed from the tunnel in old town north Alexandria, where the Robinson Landing North project will be built. |
I don't mind tunnels and love going through them. But for some reason that one bothers me, because I know so far out there it's surrounded by water. Weird right?
ReplyDeleteIt is below the water. The Metro Rail tunnel from Rosslyn to Foggy Bottom (Orange, Blue and Silver lines) is surrounded by water, is actually a pipe that sits on the bottom of the river.
DeleteI’ve been through the Channel Tunnel a couple of times. Both by car. I absolutely loved the experience... and being in France in a half hour. The second time through I spent the day in Boulogne-sur-Mer which I loved. Got to see Rodin’s Berger’s of Calais... in Calais. Great memories.
ReplyDeleteI did crossing by ferry once, just to experience it.
DeleteI find it interesting and love the technology of the boring through the earth to create the tunnel.
ReplyDeleteI used to ride BART under San Francisco Bay all the time, going back and forth between the City and Oakland. Fort some reason it doesn't bother me what we're under water.
I have only gone to Oakland once, I met a friend for lunch.
DeleteWhat fun to say, "I've traveled through the Chunnel...four times!" Knowing that your great-grandfather was a tunnel builder is a cool connection to this travel route.
ReplyDeleteThe car tunnel from Detroit to Sarnia was one of his projects. Most of the tunnels in the US were water inlets. He worked on part of the NYC subway system.
DeleteLike a dark subway, I guess. I suppose it may be challenging if a person is claustrophobic?
ReplyDeleteHaving not lived in that mind, it is easy for me to say, no different than riding in any other train, but maybe not for all.
DeleteI've done it 3 times and your description is perfect. I marveled at the fact that I was writing emails while I was so far under the sea.
ReplyDeleteA modern marvel.
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