It'll Never Work...

[pfx]

Not as long as some tunnels today but wish it had been done. Would save me a fortune in ferry fares.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-15187431

 

[H222]

How long is the CHannel Tunnel PFX?? I mean, we have the tools in this modern world to make it work now don't we??

Jamie

 

[pfx]

Yeah, I realise that today it wouldn't pose anything more challenging than what has been done elsewhere (notwithstanding geology reports and the like). If they built a tunnel similar to the Channel Tunnel, I think it would be great for competition if it also had similar prices. £100 return with a car? Bargain. We get charged around £270 return on the ferry.

Somehow, I don't see it ever happening though. There are several factors against, including financial, which I'd say was the most important, then the small fact that we run on 5' 3" here and the UK is on 4' 8 1/2". That would rule out any 'straight through' trains. Such a pity as I'm sure that would mean fast journey times. Granted, planes are quick but not if you take into consideration airport locations, check in times and the like. A good example of that is when I used to live in Edinburgh. I would alway take the train to London because the point to point of 4 1/2 hours was fractionally longer far less stressful than the equivalent flight.

 

[Klinger]

They said a tunnel from England to France was impossible too

 

[Stationbeem]

The Channel Tunnel was originally thought of in 1890's by Edward Watkin (1819-1901). It was abandoned when the Government's War Office raised the objection that a foreign army could sweep through the tunnel and invade Britain. Despite the nonsense of this argument, xenophobia won the day and the tunnel scheme was abandoned.

 

[NSWGR_46Class]

The Channel Tunnel was originally thought of in 1890's by Edward Watkin (1819-1901). It was abandoned when the Government's War Office raised the objection that a foreign army could sweep through the tunnel and invade Britain. Despite the nonsense of this argument, xenophobia won the day and the tunnel scheme was abandoned.

This was only after a test tunnel was started to see if in fact a Tunnel could be dug and it was found out it could be.

 

[Stationbeem]

This was only after a test tunnel was started to see if in fact a Tunnel could be dug and it was found out it could be.

If my information is correct he set up a company called "The Submarine Railway Company" and the test bore was made for over a mile under the sea from beneath the cliffs near Dover.

 

[JCitron]

The tunnel maybe possibly, probably too expensive due to the substrate. Unlike the English Channel, the Irish Sea is made up of basalt, granite, and quarzite, which are all very hard stone to bore through.

The western coastline of Wales, England, and all of Ireland are made of the same geological formations as Nova Scotia, Maine, and the rest of northeastern New England.

John

 

[Euphod]

It was abandoned when the Government's War Office raised the objection that a foreign army could sweep through the tunnel and invade Britain.

One would think that a tunnel of that length could be used to execute a large number of invading troops similar to the use of "Murder Holes" in ancient castle fortresses.

 

[pfx]

@ John - Yes, the geological argument is why I thought it wouldn't work as the Channel tunnel goes through a lot of chalk if I recall.

@Ed - Can you imagine an invading army exiting the tunnel straight into a waiting cannon battery? It would be worse than the charge of the Light Brigade.