Traveling via underwater tunnels might not be a new concept (i.e. see the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel) but it is something that's relatively new to many people. The Channel Tunnel, which is often nicknamed the 'Chunnel' for short, is one of the quickest routes from London to a variety of nearby European cities such as Brussels, Paris, Lyon, Lille, Marseille, and Avignon. Eurostar uses the Channel Tunnel to get from one place to the next with a surprising amount of velocity to get travelers to their destinations without wasting even a second. And for those who have traveled through this unique system of underwater tunnels, the experience is quite an interesting one.
The Chunnel was finished back in 1994 but as of late, more people are giving recognition to the tunnel that has been in place for nearly two decades. As other far-off destinations are compromised and limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the typical plane, coach bus, or boat trip has been swapped out for things such as trains like the Eurostar to get to somewhat local, close destinations. With that being said, there are some things that many people don't realize about the Chunnel, including its actual depth, how long it is, and how it works... Here are those answers and more.
How Deep Is The Channel Tunnel And What Makes It The Longest In The World?
It can be a bit daunting looking at this tunnel from above and noticing that, well... there is no tunnel. The majority of it is, indeed, under the water - 246 feet below the surface, in fact. That distance is relatively significant in terms of underwater access and while the average person might get somewhat winded climbing that distance on a hike, the Eurostar has no issue tackling such a track in a matter of little more than two hours, depending on the destination of the traveler. Travelers also have their choice of one of 15 different trains that run throughout the day, meaning there are plenty of options for those who have specific schedules. The trains depart from London St. Pancras International Station, which is quite an interesting place on its own with plenty of amenities, and arrive at Paris Gare du Nard.
The allure of this type of travel is the fact that it is much faster than a plane, more convenient thanks to quick boarding and the ease of purchasing a train ticket rather than a plane ticket, and it's more eco-friendly - believe it or not! The Tunnel itself is just over 31 miles long which means the trip itself always feels short. When you're traveling at 100 miles per hour underwater and 186 miles per hour on land, trips tend to go by much faster.
So, What's It Like To Be On This Train?
Eurostar offers economy and business seating and for those who want to make the most of their trip and travel in true luxury, it's probably worth it to spring for business class seats. There, travelers are served a hot meal as opposed to a cold one and have access to especially comfortable, cushy seats with plenty of room to spread out, a holder for their phones in case they want to watch movies or TV shows, charging ports that also offer USB plugs, and access to themed menus - trains leaving England get English meals, trains leaving France get French meals, and so on.
Those who aren't in business class have access to a small buffet that's only a short walk to the buffet car. Aside from that, the seats elsewhere on the train are still quite comfortable and have the appearance of oversized lounge chairs, with each group of chairs featuring a slim table in the middle for laptops, books, food, drinks, and anything else a table might be needed for.
Travelers have access to the train's information, such as arrival time and stats, via LCD screens that drop down from the ceiling in the center of each aisle. The trains can hold just over 830 passengers and have new and improved designs which feature slimmer seats, according to CNET, which is why it seems like there's so much legroom. Another perk is free WiFi which is available on the newest Eurostar addition - the Eurostar e320 - which has garnered even more interest from travelers seeking alternative methods of travel these days. If this new addition to the already fascinating fleet of underwater trains is any indication, underwater travel may just continue to be a growing field for transportation options.