CHANNEL TUNNEL

Evening Star, Issue 20089, 1 February 1929, Page 7

CHANNEL TUNNEL

SCHEME EXPLAINED BY CHAIRMAN GOST ESTIMATED AT £30,000,000 (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph-Copyright. RUGBY, January 31. (Received February ], at noon.) Many members of Parliament attended a private meeting in the House of Commons last night, at which Baron Emile Dorlangcr, chairman of the Channel Tunnel Company, in answering questions, estimated the cost of building the tunnel at £30,000,000, halt of which would be provided by the French and half by the British. There would be three tunnels—one for drainage, which would cost £5,000,000, and twin tunnels for traffic, costing £25,000,000. He was confident that the money could bo found without Government assistance. There would be one up line and one down line. The diameter of the drainage tunnel would bo 1211, and the big tunnels 20ft, with a 7ft gauge. Ihc construction was estimated to take two and a-ha If years for the drainage tunnel and about four years lor the twin tunnels. Tbe distance would be twentyfour miles.

Baron Derlangcr said that it it were estimated that annually 1,000,000 passengers were carried through the tnnneC paying the tnrift's now charged tor the Channel crossing, a gross income of £3,200,000 would result. It ought to be possible to run the tunnel on an annual expenditure of £1.000,000, and there would be at least £BOO,OOO paid annually in Height receipts, thnstheic would he a not "income of £3.000,00T a year or 10 per cent, return on the capital of £30,000,000. Sir William Bull, an ardent supporter of the scheme, said it was proposed that there should be an English emnpanv. a French company, and possibly a'third holding company in connection with the League of Nations.