History Daily The First Passenger Train Through the Channel Tunnel
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Nov 14, 2025 On November 14, 1994, history was made as the first passenger train traveled through the Channel Tunnel, connecting London and Paris in under three hours. The podcast delves into the challenges faced during construction, including unexpected water leaks and the innovative engineering solutions used. It recounts the symbolic moment when British and French tunnels met and celebrates the excitement of the inaugural journey. The legacy of the tunnel, its impact on travel, and the stories behind its groundbreaking construction are explored in captivating detail.
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Historic Breakthrough Beneath The Channel
- Graham Fagg broke through the last rock on December 1, 1990 and linked the British and French tunnels beneath the Channel.
- Cameras flashed as he became the first person to walk from the British Isles to mainland Europe since the Ice Age.
Custom Machinery Enabled The Tunnel
- The Channel Tunnel required novel engineering, specialized machinery, and international coordination to be feasible.
- Gordon Crichton commissioned custom Japanese boring machines because existing equipment couldn't meet the job's scale and speed.
Fresh Groundwater Halted Early Work
- Engineers feared seawater but discovered the leak was ancient fresh groundwater filtered through rock fissures.
- Gordon ordered chemical resin injections and pumps, which dried the tunnel and let work continue.