The Channel Tunnel, from pipe dream to European reality
France, May 6 -- "England is no longer an island," French newscasters solemnly announced in their evening bulletins of 6 May 1994 (conveniently forgetting that it never had been).
At 12.40pm that afternoon, a Eurostar from London had pulled into Coquelles, northern France.
It was carrying the first official guests to travel under the English Channel by rail: Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip.
They were greeted by French President Francois Mitterrand, who had made the less exciting journey from Paris aboard a sister Eurostar.
"It's the first time in history that the heads of state of France and Great Britain have met without having to take either the boat or a plane," the Queen said in precise, clipped French.
Hands w...
Click here to read full article from source
To read the full article or to get the complete feed from this publication, please
Contact Us.