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The Channel Tunnel

What is the chunnel.

The Channel Tunnel (often called the 'Chunnel' for short) is an undersea tunnel linking southern England and northern France. It is operated by the company Getlink, who also run a railway shuttle (Le Shuttle) between Folkestone and Calais, carrying passengers in cars, vans and other vehicles.

Eurostar is a totally separate company and is Getlink’s biggest customer, running high-speed passenger services through the Channel Tunnel between London and a number of other European cities on the continent, including Paris, Brussels, Lille, Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

The Chunnel actually comprises three tunnels: two rail tunnels, used for freight and passenger trains, and a service tunnel.

Everything you need to know about the Channel Tunnel

How long is the Channel Tunnel?

The Channel Tunnel is 31.5 miles long or 50.45 km. That's the equivalent of 169 Eiffel Towers stacked on top of each other.

23.5 miles (37.9 km) of the Channel Tunnel is under the English Channel, making it the world's longest undersea tunnel.

What year did the Channel Tunnel open?

The idea of a tunnel under the Channel was first proposed in 1802 but construction wasn't started until 1988. It was completed in 1993, and Eurostar services started in November 1994.

What does the Eurotunnel look like underwater?

This may be a disappointing answer, but you can't actually see the sea from the Eurostar. When you go through the tunnel and look out of the window, all you can see is your reflection in the glass because it's quite dark outside. You can catch glimpses of the walls of the tunnel, of course, which are made of reinforced concrete.

Where is the Channel Tunnel?

The Channel Tunnel runs between Calais in northern France and Folkestone in south Kent. Vehicle traffic for Le Shuttle gets on in Calais and gets off in Folkestone. Calais is about three hour's drive from Paris and Folkestone is about an hour and a half's drive from London.

Our passenger-only Eurostar trains leave from St Pancras International station in London and go directly to the centre of Paris, Brussels and other Eurostar destinations in Europe.

How deep is the Channel Tunnel?

At its deepest, the tunnel is 75 metres (246 feet) below the sea level. That's the same as 107 baguettes balancing on top of each other.

The English Channel is much deeper than the tunnel, with its deepest point measuring 175 meters (574 feet) below sea level.

How was the Channel Tunnel built?

The Channel Tunnel is made of three separate tunnels running parallel to each other. One train tunnel running south (UK to France), one train tunnel running north (France to UK) and one service tunnel. All three tunnels were drilled below the seabed and link Folkestone in Kent to Coquelles in Pas-de-Calais.

However, the idea of connecting the UK and France by tunnel is much older than people think – dating back to the early 1800s when its supporters included Napoleon Bonaparte.

Work on experimental tunnels started back in 1880 at Abbot’s Cliff near Folkestone, Kent. Many of the workers used hand tools, but a state-of-the-art boring machine was also used. Work was eventually abandoned until construction on the tunnel as we now know it began again in 1988.

Frequently asked questions

Thinking of hopping on Eurostar for your next European adventure? Got a couple of need-to-know questions before you book your trip? Here we’ve answered a selection of the most frequently asked questions from our customers.

Who can travel through the Channel Tunnel?

Foot passengers can travel with Eurostar, between our UK stations London St Pancras International and our stations on the continent . People who want to travel with their own vehicle or on a coach can use the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle between Folkestone and Calais. Before travelling with either Eurostar or Eurotunnel you will need to go through security, border and ticket checks before going through the Tunnel.

How much did it cost to build the Channel Tunnel?

It took just under six years and 13,000 workers to build the Channel Tunnel. The total cost came at an eye-watering £4.65 billion which would be the equivalent of £12 billion in today's money.

Why travel with Eurostar rather than drive?

• Avoid the stress of driving, with direct high-speed journeys to top destinations, from city centre to city centre.
• Great value fares with no additional costs like fuel, road tolls and parking.
• Simple connections with other rail services in Europe, allowing you to go beyond our direct destinations on a single booking.
• Travel in style on our comfortable trains, including our new, state-of-the art trains with wi-fi.

How fast does the Eurostar go?

The Eurostar travels through the Channel Tunnel at a speed of 100 miles per hour (160kph) although when the train is outside the tunnel it reaches speed of 186 miles per hour (300 kph).

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Eurotunnel - Driving "Le Shuttle" Through the Channel Tunnel

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (a move known as "Brexit") formally occurred on January 31, 2020. Following that departure is a transition period lasting until December 31, 2020, during which the U.K. and E.U. will negotiate the terms of their future relationship. This article has been updated as of the January 31st withdrawal, and you can find up-to-date information about details of the transition on the U.K.'s government website .

One of the fastest - and cheapest - ways to cross the English Channel is via Eurotunnel. Whether you cross through Eurotunnel for a short excursion or as one leg of a European touring vacation, you just drive aboard Le Shuttle , and, hey presto, 35 minutes later you're in another country.

First Let's Get a Few Things Straight

• You don't actually drive through the Channel Tunnel. You sit comfortably in your own car (or in a minibus if you're a cyclist) while you are carried through the tunnel on a special train, the Car Transport.
• Nobody really calls the the tunnel the "chunnel" anymore. It is called the Channel Tunnel or  Le Shuttle  for going by car or Eurostar for the high-speed, passenger-only service.

What is a Trip Through Eurotunnel Like?

First off, if you're not the greatest traveler when it comes to long tunnels, you have nothing to worry about. Crossing the channel on the car transporter has to be the easiest,quickest and most comfortable way to do it ever.

Boarding is a snap. We showed up early for our train and actually got on an earlier departure. Driving on Le Shuttle , the Eurotunnel Car Transporter, was a bit like driving into a garage.

The inside was painted a sunny yellow and the lights stayed brightly lit throughout the journey. So bright, in fact that, while we chatted happily, the dog snoring, oblivious, in the back seat, we raced across the French countryside for at least five minutes before we noticed that the carriage windows had turned from tunnel black to sky blue and we'd actually gone all the way through.

Le Shuttle Is for Cyclists Too

Each Eurotunnel Shuttle can carry six cyclists. The bicycles are carried on a specially adapted trailer and the cyclists travel in a minibus. To book a bicycle crossing, telephone the sales support department, weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 5:30p.m. on  44 (0)1303 282201 . Cycle crossings must be booked 48 hours in advance.  If you are traveling with a larger group, ring the sales support department on the same number to discuss arrangements. 

Cycles on a roof rack  - Some carriages on the Shuttle are double-deckers and some are single. If you are carrying bicycles on the roof of a car that make the car more than 1.85 meters tall (about 5.15 feet), tell the agent when you book your travel so that you can be assigned to an appropriate carriage.

Taking Your Dog

The tunnel is the most comfortable and humane way to travel across the English Channel with a pet. Your animal stays with you the whole way. If you are coming and going from the UK with a dog or cat though, the animal must be proven rabies free, microchipped and registered for the UK Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) , which takes some advanced planning.

Checking-in

Arrive at least half an hour before your departure (and not more than two hours) to allow time to check in, get into the boarding lanes and go through British and French security and frontier controls. In addition to passports and visas (if required) for all passengers, you'll also need registration documents and proof of insurance for your car. If you are traveling with a pet, you need to bring the required PETS paperwork and allow some extra time for your animal's passport and microchip to be checked.

Do You Have to Book in Advance?

You may be able to get aboard the next available shuttle, paying in pounds, euros or by credit card. But it's more expensive than booking in advance and you aren't guaranteed a place. During busy times of day or at the start of European school vacations, you could end up waiting quite some time to board a shuttle.

But you can still be almost spontaneous. Shuttles through Eurotunnel can usually be booked as little as a day in advance.

Can You Accidentally End Up on the Wrong Side of the Road?

Not a chance. Yes they drive on the right in France and on the left in the UK but those clever engineers who designed and built this wonder of the world thought of everything - including how stupid some of us drivers might be.

Roads are engineered to guide you to the correct lane both getting in and out of Eurotunnel. By the time you have gone through British and French passport control and customs and are ready to leave the private roads on the Eurotunnel sites, you've adjusted to the correct side of the road for the country you are in. 

Cheap Enough for Day Trips

Eurotunnel is priced to encourage day-trippers and short visits - and it only takes 35 minutes. If you're renting a self-catering cottage in Kent, you can hop across to stock up on cheaper wine and beer, cheaper cigarettes if you smoke, plus lovely French cheeses and groceries to stock your cupboards. Touring in the south of England? Pop across the channel for lunch, a visit to Northern France and a change of scene. The Pas de Calais region, near the tunnel exit in Coquelles, has lovely beach resorts, Flemish-influenced villages and great beer. There are also some wonderful restaurants. Try le Grand Bleu near the ferry port in Calais or the restaurants in the pretty town of Montreuil-sur-Mer . And if you are coming over from France, there's plenty to do within easy reach of the tunnel's Folkestone terminus.

Meals on the Way

Thirty-five minutes is a pretty short trip but if you arrive early, have to queue to board or have a long drive once you're through the tunnel, you could get hungry.

I find the shopping and catering at Eurotunnel facilities on a par with airport duty free - pretty conventional, over priced and not very nice. And once you've entered the Eurotunnel site, you can't really leave without repeating all the frontier security checks.

So allow some time to visit Calais first. See Rodin's original bronze of the Burghers of Calais and learn their heroic story, shop the Calais hypermarkets for wine and bargains, then pick up one last French picnic and head for the tunnel at Coquelles.

Essential Information:

• Where: The tunnel joins Folkestone in Kent with Coquelles, outside Calais. It has its own motorway exits, leading straight to check-in at both ends.
• from France take junction 42 off the A16 motorway
• from the UK take junction 11A off the M20.
• Book: online at the Eurotunnel website or by phoning:
• from the UK -  08443 35 35 35
• from outside Europe - +44 08443 35 35 35
• from France - +33 (0) 810 63 03 04
• Schedule:  Up to four departures per hour (from both directions) in bookable 2-hour windows, round the clock.
• Fares: One way fares start at £85. But you'd be smarter booking a round trip. Day trips and overnight stays start at £30 each way and short stays of up to five days start at £66 each way. The fare is per car (prices as of 2019). Motorcycle fares start at £15 and bicycles cost £20 each way.

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How to Travel to the UK From Paris and Northern France

48 Hours in Calais: The Perfect Itinerary

Driving the Channel Tunnel - Why You Might Need a Plan B

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Eurostar High Speed Trains Through the Channel Tunnel

How to Travel From London to Birmingham by Train, Bus, and Car

North Coast of France: The Ultimate Road Trip From Dieppe to Calais

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Passenger travel to the EU by air, rail or sea

Travel and passenger rights and the measures in place to minimise disruption.

Flying to the EU from the UK

Before you leave for the airport, check online for the latest travel information and scheduled services from your airline.

Airport security screening

From 1 January 2021, flights continue and you should not experience any difference in security screening.

Passengers flying from the UK continue to transfer to onward flights at EU airports without extra security screening. This is also the case at airports in Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.

There is no impact on direct flights to non- EU countries.

Air passenger rights

Existing passenger rights continue for air passengers flying from the UK .

For EU registered airlines, EU law continues to apply for flights to and from the EU .

Assistance, compensation and protection continues for:

• passengers subject to denied boarding, delay or cancellation
• passengers with reduced mobility
• insolvency of a travel provider

You should take out appropriate travel insurance , check and understand the terms and conditions of their booking.

Private and general aviation

UK issued private pilot licences are valid for use on UK registered aircraft including for flights in the EU .

However, if the operator of the aircraft is resident or established in the EU , an EU licence may be required in some EU countries.

Travelling by Eurostar to the EU from the UK

Your rights as a rail passenger using either domestic or cross-border rail services remain unchanged.

The EU regulation on rail passengers’ rights is now UK law. It will continue to protect passengers on cross-border rail services.

Before you leave, check online for the latest travel information and scheduled services for Eurostar.

Travelling by Eurotunnel to the EU from the UK

Your rights as a passenger using Eurotunnel’s cross-border shuttle services remain unchanged.

Passengers can continue to use Eurotunnel’s existing complaints procedure.

Before you leave, check online for the latest travel information and scheduled services for Eurotunnel.

Travelling by bus or coach to the EU from the UK

The EU regulation on bus and coach passengers’ rights is now UK law. It continues to protect passengers on cross-border bus and coach services.

Before you leave, check online for the latest travel information and scheduled services for your bus or coach provider.

Travelling by sea to the EU from the UK

Passengers travelling to the EU by sea should not experience any difference in their journey.

Ferry passengers

The EU regulation on passengers’ rights is now UK law. It will continue to protect passengers on ferry services.

The EU regulation on maritime passengers’ rights is now UK law. It will continue to protect passengers who embark on a cruise at a UK port.

Before you leave, check online for the latest travel information and scheduled services for your ferry or cruise provider.

Passenger rights

Passenger rights in regards to travelling will remain unchanged.

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Eurotunnel (Le Shuttle)

Folkestone, uk to calais, france.

With just a 35 minute journey time and up to 4 departures an hour, Eurotunnel is a fast and reliable way to cross the English Channel between Folkestone and Calais.

Cars boarding the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle train.

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle is a great way to cross the English Channel between the UK and France.

Tickets are priced from only £50 per vehicle each way – it’s quick, and it’s affordable too!

With a journey time of just 35 minutes, it beats the ferry by an hour, and the loading and unloading process is much faster too!

Once you leave the motorway, pass through the ticket check booths and on to passport and customs checks for both countries. Then, you’re all set to drive onto the train.

Upon arrival, you can instantly drive off the train, onto the motorway network and on your way!

Eurotunnel FAQs

Where is the eurotunnel terminal at folkestone.

Where is the Eurotunnel terminal at Calais?

Does the Eurotunnel have a luggage limit?

No. The only luggage limitation is what you can safely fit in your car.

Do you have to stay in your car on the Eurotunnel?

You’re free to sit in your car and relax for the 35 minute journey or get out and stretch your legs on the train.

How soon do you have to check in for the Eurotunnel?

You should arrive and check in at least 1 hour before your scheduled departure time, but no sooner than 4 hours.

Cars parked on Eurotunnel Le Shuttle train.

What are the Duty Free allowances when travelling between England and France?

Personal allowances for alcohol and tobacco when travelling to mainland Europe are much lower than they used to be when the UK was a member of the European Union. According to the  UK Goverment website , you are currently allowed to bring into the UK:

• 200 cigarettes or 250g tobacco
• 18 litres of wine (24 bottles)
• 42 litres of beer

without paying import VAT or duty.

Travel Insurance

Whether you’re soaking up sun in the South of France or skiing in the Alps, unexpected emergencies can quickly dampen the mood.

Maybe your luggage goes walkabout, you miss a crucial travel connection, or get a nasty bout of food poisoning – life has a knack for throwing curveballs.

Now, for UK travellers thinking, “I’ve got my GHIC card, I’ll be fine,” remember it only scratches the surface. It might sort you out for basic health issues in the EU, but what about lost baggage, cancelled trips, major medical issues or getting back home in emergencies?

That’s where travel insurance steps in. Offering a safety net, it ensures those unexpected hitches won’t drain your wallet or your spirits. So, while the GHIC card is handy, it can’t beat the peace of mind from a good travel insurance policy.

Compare quotes from up to 30 travel insurance providers – set out with the right cover and enjoy your journey stress-free!

Breakdown Cover

Taking your car abroad and driving in Europe can be a lot of fun. However, if you break down, your trip can suddenly turn into a nightmare. Without breakdown cover that covers you in Europe, it can be a costly and rather complicated nightmare too!

By taking out an affordable comprehensive policy before you leave, you can be reassured that if the worst did happen, you’ll have the support to get you, your family and your car back to the UK without it costing you a fortune too.

When it comes to policy options, you can buy cover for either a single trip or as annual cover if you plan to take a number trips over to Europe during the year.

A breakdown is inconvenient at the best of times and could be a nightmare if you’re stuck at the side of the road in a foreign country.

A breakdown is inconvenient at the best of times and could be a nightmare if you’re stuck at the side of the road in a foreign country.

Driving in France? – Know the Requirements

In France and many other European countries, the law requires you to carry certain safety equipment in your car. There can be very hefty fines (sometimes on the spot) if you’re stopped by the Police and you don’t have these items in your car.

• Reflective jackets for the driver and all passengers . These should be accessible from inside the vehicle.
• Red warning triangle
• Registration plate country identifier
• Headlamp beam deflectors

Though not mandatory, we also recommend carrying a spare bulb kit and a first aid kit.

In France, it is a legal requirement to have reflective jackets and other items of safety equipment in your car. These items can be bought as a kit , or separately.

The History of the Tunnel

The idea of constructing a tunnel under the English Channel has been around since the early 19th century. However, the Eurotunnel project did not gain momentum until the late 20th century.

The formation of the Eurotunnel company took place in 1986, and construction on the tunnel started by 1988. Despite the enormous engineering challenge, it took just six years to complete the project, with the grand opening in 1994. The tunnel, over 50 km long, consists of three tunnels – two for trains and one for service. With over 13,000 workers involved, the tunnel holds the record as the longest undersea tunnel in the world.

Overcoming Engineering and Financial Challenges

The project faced numerous challenges and obstacles during its construction. One of the biggest was the geology of the area, as the Channel Tunnel passes through an area with a high water table and soft chalk. Engineers developed innovative solutions like large bore tunnel-boring machines and an extensive pump system to address these difficulties and remove water from the tunnel.

Another challenge was the financing of the project, which was one of the largest and most expensive infrastructure projects in Europe at the time. The Eurotunnel company secured funding through a combination of private investment, government grants, and loans. The project was also subject to intense political and public scrutiny, with many opponents raising concerns about the potential environmental and safety implications of the tunnel.

Despite these challenges, the project was completed on schedule and within budget, and has been a major success since its opening. The tunnel serves as a shuttle service, with trains transporting both passengers and freight vehicles between England and France. The journey takes just 35 minutes, and trains are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It has revolutionized travel between the two countries and is now considered an essential part of the transportation infrastructure connecting the UK to mainland Europe.

Folkestone, UK do Calais, Francja

Od £50 w jedną stronę za dzień albo pojedynczą noc wraz z autem.

4 połączenia, co godzinę, 35 minut podróży – Eurotunel jest szybki i pewny. Wymagane potwierdzenie 30 minut przez odjazdem. Jeśli jeździsz regularnie, to można kupić odpowiednie bilety za £43 na stronie.

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Eurotunnel ends strike, cross-Channel traffic to resume gradually after major disruptions

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Israel orders residents from more east Rafah areas to evacuate

Israel on Saturday called on residents from more areas of Rafah in the Gaza Strip to evacuate and head to the "expanded humanitarian area" in Al-Mawasi, according to a post on social media site X by the military's Arabic spokesperson.

Channel Tunnel marks 30th anniversary

• Published 6 May 2024

The Channel Tunnel is celebrating 30 years since it was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II.

The 31-mile (50 km) long structure, opened on 6 May 1994, connecting Folkestone in Kent, with Calais, northern France, for the first time.

GetLink, which runs the Eurotunnel passenger shuttle, said about 480 million passengers had used the service since it opened.

It described the anniversary as "remarkable".

Speaking ahead of the anniversary, John Keefe, from GetLink, said: "Thirty years ago, the Channel Tunnel was considered to be the project of the century.

"It was seen as a real game-changer in terms of travel and transport - very futuristic with the latest technology."

GetLink said each year the service carried:

An average of 10 million passengers on LeShuttle

A further 11 million passengers via Eurostar services

Four million dogs

On 6 May 1994, French President Francois Mitterrand and Queen Elizabeth II jointly opened the Channel Tunnel

More than 13,000 workers from both France and England worked on the project, which took six years to build.

In May 2022, the service began working in the energy sector, commissioning a high voltage interconnector linking the electricity between the England and France.

Mr Keefe said: "It enables the UK to sell its sustainable wind-generated energy into the European market and, at times of need, to bring nuclear energy, so low carbon energy, from the EU into the UK."

Eurotunnel said it was "paving the way for an increasingly carbon-free future".

'Gorillas and tigers'

Joanne Tanton has worked for Eurotunnel for 28 years, along with her parents and husband

Joanne Tanton has worked for Eurotunnel for 28 years.

"It is a family affair in that I started working here and then my mum started a few weeks later in the same department.

"Dad then got fed up of our "shop-talk" at home and he joined as well."

Speaking to BBC Radio Kent about her first trip through the tunnel, Mrs Tanton said: "I think it was just a shock that it was real, we talked about it and we were trained about how it worked but to actually drive a car onto a train was mind-blowing."

These days she works in a team handling group crossings and "exceptional animal transportation", and said she had seen "gorillas, tigers and a bear, and a raccoon, travel through the tunnel".

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook , external , on X , external , and on Instagram , external . Send your story ideas to [email protected] , external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.

Related Topics

• Channel Tunnel
• Rail travel

More on this story

Channel Tunnel celebrates 30th anniversary

• Published 3 May

England to France in a minute under the sea. Video, 00:01:24 England to France in a minute under the sea

• Published 8 October 2019

Channel Tunnel welcomes visitors. Video, 00:01:02 Channel Tunnel welcomes visitors

• Published 16 September 2013

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Eurotunnel’s new travel system will soon mean no more queues

The cross-Channel travel company’s boss says that the new EES system will lead to a smoother travel exprience.

Later this year, the way we travel between the UK and Europe is going to change in a big way. Something called the Entry/Exit System (EES) will come into effect, replacing manual passport stamping with an automated IT system registering stuff like travel documents and biometric data.

It’ll be a huge shake-up. And the changeover to a new system is expected to cause quite a bit of disruption at borders with the EU, with travellers needing to register fingerprints and a photo on the UK side of the border. Several people and organisations have warned that the new system could cause lengthy queues at the border.

But now there’s some better news. The boss of Eurotunnel – which operates the Channel Tunnel – has said he reckons there will be no queues after the EES switch. That’s right: no queues at all .

Eurotunnel chief executive Yann Leriche told BBC News that while cross-Channel journeys will take five to seven minutes longer, extra lanes and new technology will actually make the overall process smoother. Passengers will use machines to scan passports and register biometric data, while 140 new staff will be hired to help.

Leriche said: ‘There will be no delay on the highway, nothing. It will happen in a very smooth manner.’

A confident man! Is Leriche’s confidence warranted? We’ll just have to wait and see.

RECOMMENDED: The 14 most underrated travel destinations in Europe .

When will the new EU travel system start?

The new EES travel system is expected to launch on October 6 2024. It’s been delayed since 2022.

The EES isn’t to be confused with the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is a visa waiver system that’ll apply to UK travellers. That’s been delayed to 2025 – and you can find out more about it here . 

What’s different about this new travel system?  

At the moment, if you travel from the UK to the EU’s Schengen Area, you have your passport stamped at the border when you arrive in the EU.

When the EES comes into effect, your fingerprints and an image of your face will be taken at the external border , meaning that information will be collected before you leave the UK. You won’t need to register in advance for the EES before you travel.

The idea behind the EES is that it will keep better track of migration data, as well as reduce time spent waiting around at border control on the Schengen side.

M25 closures this weekend: May 2024 dates and everything you need to know .

Plus: The UK’s best national park for road trips has been crowned .

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International Edition

Eurotunnel says no queues with new travel system

T he boss of Eurotunnel has insisted there will not be long queues of cars at its terminals when a new EU travel system starts in October.

Brits heading to and from Europe will need to register fingerprints and a photo at the border, which has prompted warnings of delays.

Eurotunnel chief executive Yann Leriche said journeys would take five-to-seven minutes longer, but extra lanes and technology mean the process will go smoothly.

The BBC had the first look at new machines people will need to use at Folkestone or Calais.

At the Port of Dover, Eurostar’s St Pancras terminus and Eurotunnel in Folkestone, French border police check passports as people leave the UK.

The EU’s much-delayed Entry Exit system , or EES, will replace manual passport stamping.

Citizens of countries which are outside the bloc, including the UK, will need to register their biometric information.

There have been repeated warnings of queues as a result, and calls for the EES launch to be pushed back again.

There were hopes that an app being developed by the EU could enable some of the registration to be done from home, but it is not expected to be ready for use in October.

At Eurotunnel’s Folkestone and Calais sites, we saw how the company which operates vehicle and freight shuttles across the Channel Tunnel has been preparing for the new system.

The equivalent of £70m is being spent building processing zones, where people will queue in their cars to use automatic machines.

Yann Leriche, the chief executive of Eurotunnel operator Getlink, told the BBC that travellers "will simply [get] out of their car, spend a few minutes on their kiosks, and go back to their car and continue their journey”.

He said it would take “five to seven minutes extra to get through”, but added “as we have extended the number of lanes, there will be no delay on the highway, nothing. It will happen in a very smooth manner”.

The company will recruit 140 new staff to assist passengers.

I tried out one of the prototype machines which Eurotunnel will use at its terminals.

First, it took a scan of my passport.

Next, the machine then took a photo of my face.

I was then asked to put my right hand on another scanning pad, which recorded my fingerprints.

A series of questions about my journey followed on the touchscreen, to which I had to answer "yes" or "no".

At the Port of Dover, the plan is slightly different.

Port staff will have iPads for car passengers to register their information.

Coaches will be processed off-site at the Western Docks, with e-gates or kiosks.

Monday marks 30 years since Queen Elizabeth II and President Mitterand took part in the Channel Tunnel's official opening event.

Paying passengers had to wait several months longer to take the journey on Eurostar trains.

The tunnel opened £2bn over budget. The company operating it nearly went bust at one point, but it later became profitable and the services through the tunnel have endured.

With the pandemic over and preparations under way for the introduction of EES, Getlink boss Mr Leriche wants to see an increasing number of trains going through the tunnel.

Eurostar, a separate company to Eurotunnel, runs passenger services from London St Pancras through the Channel Tunnel to Paris and beyond. Since the tunnel opened, it has been the only operator doing that.

Now, there's talk of rival operators springing up.

Mr Leriche said: "We are confident that within the next 10 years, there will be a doubling of the direct connection between London and Europe".

Eurotunnel operator offers cash to attract new cross-channel services

Getlink says that there is capacity for 2.5 times more trains to use the Channel Tunnel on a daily basis.

The operator of the Channel Tunnel, Getlink, has offered €50 million to encourage more companies to launch new cross-Channel rail services to rival Eurostar, according to the Financial Times. 

The French company, formerly called Groupe Eurotunnel, manages and operates the infrastructure of the Channel Tunnel as well as LeShuttle passenger and freight trains. It has long been advocating for more operators to launch services as it sees significant growth potential for cross-Channel rail services.

The chief executive of Getlink, Yann Leriche, told the FT: "We have a lot of room, including at peak time. I think there is potential to have more high speed trains and freight trains."

Leriche told the Financial Times that he believes that the tunnel has the capacity for 1,000 trains a day but that currently it is only used by around 400.

According to Leriche, at least five companies have expressed a serious interest in launching new passenger train services, including Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group, a Dutch start-up Heuro, and Evolyn, a Spanish-led project backed by the billionaire Cosmen industrialist family, an investor in the British multinational public transport company Mobico.

• New destinations and cheaper tickets: How Channel Tunnel rail travel might change in the future

The FT reports that a €50 million cash incentive will be offered by Getlink over the next five years to encourage new operators and is aimed at offsetting the initial high costs. 

Launching a new passenger train service has long been seen as complicated and costly, for example, due to the need to use modified trains that comply with the Tunnel's stringent safety rules, among others reasons. 

According to Leriche some of the biggest hurdles have been cleared and costs have been lowered after Alstom’s new TGV trains were certified to run through the tunnel. 

The operator has high hopes that, on top of Eurostar’s current routes from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, there is demand for four million passenger journeys from Germany and Switzerland.

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