1. The Chunnel

2. The Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel or ‘Chunnel’ is a 32 mile long connection passage located underneath the English Channel
Connects Dover, England to Calais, France

3. History of the idea
The modern idea of a tunnel between the two countries dates back to 1802 when Albert Mathieu formally presented the idea after taking a hot air balloon over the channel.
His vision was a tunnel with horse-drawn carriages, illuminated with oil lamps
At the center of his grand vision was a man made island mid- channel for changing horses.

4. History of the idea
The idea was revisited many times during the 1800’s as geologists surveyed the floor of the channel for the ideal place to build a tunnel.
In 1881 the Anglo-French Submarine Railway Company began digging on both sides of the channel using the first modern boring machine.

5. History of the idea
The AFRC tunneling experiment proved to be very effective.
A nearly 2 km tunnel with a seven foot diameter was created on the English side, while a 1.5 km tunnel was started in France.
But cultural issues, political pressure and logistical problems halted this attempt.

6. History of the idea
The idea of the Chunnel continued to be discussed throughout the 20th century
But attempts to resume digging were always halted by political fear of strategic disadvantage in war.
France and England discussed building the Chunnel to strengthen their alliance after WWI.
English scientists later feared that the Germans could attempt to build a Chunnel to invade England during WWII

7. History of the idea
In 1974, almost 30 years after WWII, England and France came to an agreement and construction resumed on both sides of the tunnel.
The plan called for two large scale tunnels around a smaller service tunnel. The eventual final design.
But in 1975 tunneling was halted again in England.
With the English economy struggling, the Labour party didn’t feel such a large scale public project was worth the expense.

8. Inception/Eurotunnel
In 1981 English prime minister Margaret Thatcher and French president Francois Mitterrand agreed to resurrect the project but under the concept that it could only be done as a privately funded project.
In February 1986 England and France entered into the Treaty of Canterbury which drew a formal border on the English Channel between the two countries. This treaty was designed to initiate the project.
Negative stakeholders, primarily English ferry boat companies, protested and further delayed construction into 1987.

9. The Eurotunnel Plan BOT: Build Operate and Transfer (after 55 years)

10. The Eurotunnel Plan

11. The Eurotunnel Plan
English Staging Area

12. The Eurotunnel Plan
French Staging Area

13. The Eurotunnel Plan
Train Door Redesign

14. The Eurotunnel Plan
The Eurotunnel plan was unprecedented. It aimed to use to lessons learned from previous attempts to build the biggest private construction project of all time.
Contractors would tunnel from both sides of the channel simultaneously. (32 miles total, 23 miles underwater)
They used the survey from the 1881 Anglo-French Railway Company to determine its route through a base of chalk that would hopefully prevent water seepage.
It also incorporated the 1975 scheme of 3 tunnels(2 train, 1 service).

15. Eurotunnel Excavation
The Boring Machine

16. Eurotunnel Problems Bank investment forecast issues
Too many contractors Too many moving parts

17. Eurotunnel Problems
Two Governments + Financiers

18. Eurotunnel WBS

19. Eurotunnel Excavation

20. Eurotunnel Excavation

21. Eurotunnel Excavation

22. Eurotunnel Construction

23. Eurotunnel Construction

24. Eurotunnel TimeLine
June 1988 – Construction Begins in France

25. Eurotunnel TimeLine
Dec – Construction Begins in England

26. Eurotunnel TimeLine
Oct. 30, 1990 – Breakthrough Point

27. Eurotunnel TimeLine
July 1991 – All three tunnels complete

28. Eurotunnel TimeLine
May Dedication

29. Eurotunnel TimeLine
July 1994 – Opens to the public

30. Eurotunnel Project Summary
Final cost $14.9 Billion
Most Expensive Private Construction Project in World History
80% of cost overruns caused by poor planning at inception phase
Interest costs through 2013 have pushed the cost over $20 Billion
The Chunnel will NOT be profitable in the lifetime of its investors

31. Eurotunnel Positives
The modern marvel of our lifetime; like the Pyramids in Egypt, the Great Wall of China
31 million people ride it every year cars per hour
It only takes 3.5 hours to travel from Paris to London
The Chunnel may outlive human civilization, proving to future life that we were here

32. Eurotunnel Video Chunnel Video Link References:
- 'Modern Marvels' Documentary