CHANNEL TUNNEL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 1, 1 July 1939, Page 8

CHANNEL TUNNEL

FRANCE IN FAVOUR

PLAN QUITE FEASIBLE

(By Air Mall, from "The Post's" London Representative,)/

LONDON, June 2.

At intervals over a great number of years the subject of constructing a tunnel between France and England has come1 up for discussion, at Westminster and in the city, but no decision has ever been arrived at^ and periodically the matter has been temporarily shelved. Many have been much in favour of the scheme; many others have visualised such a project as a menace strategically. That such a work could be undertaken has never been doubted. ',

The latest news is that the French Government considers the construction of a Channel tunnel to be of such military, strategical, and commercial importance -that they will presently invite the British Government to reopen discussion on the project New planS being drawn up for a tunnel are the most elaborate ever put forward. A vote favourable to the scheme has been passed in the French Chamber, while the Foreign Affairs Commission has supported the motion. M. Andre Basdevant, the eminent French engineer, has supplied the attached figures:— Estimated cost £42,000,000, for a road tunnel only; length, 30 miles; width of roadway, 22ft; height, from road level to, roof, 18ft; deepest point, 300 ft below the bed of the sea. It is estimated that an average of 1000 vehicles an hour could pass through the tunnel. Experts estimate that such a tunnel would produce an income of £2,000,000 from-passenger and freight traffic. Backers of the scheme feel sure there will be no difficulty in raising the money needed to finance the project. Present plans are for the tunnel to start at the Marquise, pass undes^ Cape Gris Nez, and come out near Folkestone.