Editing Eurostar (section)

===Channel Tunnel===
{{Main |Channel Tunnel}}

The Channel Tunnel is the only rail connection between Great Britain and the European mainland. It joins LGV Nord in France with High Speed 1 in Britain. Tunnelling began in 1988, and the {{convert|50.5|km|adj=on|abbr=in}} tunnel was officially opened by British sovereign, [[Elizabeth II]], and the French President, [[François Mitterrand]], on 6 May 1994.<ref name="BBC openingceremony">{{Cite news |date=6 May 1994 |title=On this day: 6 May 1994: President and Queen open Chunnel (with video clip) |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/6/newsid_2511000/2511653.stm |access-date=12 January 2008 |archive-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114003842/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/6/newsid_2511000/2511653.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
It is owned by [[Getlink]], which charges a toll to Eurostar for its use.<ref name="Eurotoll">{{Cite news |last=O'Connell |first=Dominic |date=13 March 2008 |title=Fees for high-speed tunnel link derail Eurostar's gravy train |work=The Times |location=London |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article3671706.ece |access-date=25 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612141213/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article3671706.ece |archive-date=12 June 2011}}</ref> Within the Channel Tunnel, Eurostar trains operate at a reduced speed of {{cvt|160|km/h|mph|sigfig=1}} for safety reasons.<ref name="railfaneurostar">{{Cite web |date=27 May 2001 |title=Eurostar article |url=http://www.railfaneurope.net/tgv/eurostar.html |access-date=28 April 2009 |publisher=railfaneurope.net |archive-date=24 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424194930/http://www.railfaneurope.net/tgv/eurostar.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="eurotunnrules">{{Cite web |date=18 March 2008 |title=Eurotunnel Network Statement 2008 |url=http://www.eurotunnel.com/NR/rdonlyres/116B61C1-A669-4503-872C-FA1356B38F1F/0/DRR_NS_2008_EN_Final.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081125022335/http://www.eurotunnel.com/NR/rdonlyres/116B61C1-A669-4503-872C-FA1356B38F1F/0/DRR_NS_2008_EN_Final.pdf |archive-date=25 November 2008 |access-date=7 April 2012 |publisher=Eurotunnel}}</ref>
Since the launch of Eurostar services, severe disruptions and cancellations have been caused by fires breaking out within the Channel Tunnel, such as in [[1996 Channel Tunnel fire|1996]]<ref name="Kirkland fire">{{Cite journal |last=Kirkland, C.J. |year=2002 |title=The fire in the Channel Tunnel |url=http://www.ita-aites.org/cms/fileadmin/filemounts/ovion/doc/safety/sydney/OS12.PDF |url-status=dead |journal=Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology |volume=17 |issue=2 |pages=129–132 |doi=10.1016/S0886-7798(02)00014-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920093906/http://www.ita-aites.org/cms/fileadmin/filemounts/ovion/doc/safety/sydney/OS12.PDF |archive-date=20 September 2010}}</ref> and [[2008 Channel Tunnel fire|2008]].<ref name="Tunnelfire" />