Interesting facts about the Channel Tunnel

• Albert Mathieu, a French mining engineer, first mooted the idea for a tunnel underneath the English Channel in 1802.

• The first Channel tunnel began construction in 1880 by the then PM William Gladstone. The project was stopped because it was deemed a threat to national security.

• The deepest point of the Channel Tunnel is 114.9 metres below sea level compared with an average of 24.38 metres on London Underground.

• 13,000 engineers, technicians and workers helped to construct the Channel Tunnel.

• The total cost of the Channel Tunnel was $21 billion!

• The chalk excavated from underneath the English Channel was dumped near Folkestone allowing 90 acres of land to be reclaimed from the sea. The area is now a popular park.

• The use of laser guiding methods ensured that the British and French efforts met with less than 20mm of error.

• The Channel Tunnel ensures that for the first time in 8500 years you can walk from Britain to France.