High-speed channel tunnel link opens
The first half of the British TGV-style high-speed Channel Tunnel Rail Link is due to open today.
The £1.9billion, 46 mile section, in which trains will run at speeds of up to 186mph, will cut 20 minutes off of the London to Paris or London to Brussels journey between the tunnel near Folkestone and Fawkham Junction in north Kent.
By 2007 the remaining 24 miles to London St Pancras station is due to open at a cost of £3.3 billion, cutting journey times by 40 minutes. When this is completed journey times will be two hours 15 minutes to Paris and two hours to Brussels.
The new link will also be used as a high-speed commuter link between London and Kent.
Passenger services on the first section will start running at the end of the month.
