CHANNEL TUNNEL PLANS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 228, 20 June 1919, Page 7

CHANNEL TUNNEL PLANS

TRAINS TO BAGDAD AND THE CAPE

Sir Francis Fox, the joint-engineer of the Channel Tunnel . Company, gave -an interesting address on his scheme recently to the members of the Channel Tunnel Committee of the House of Commons.

Sir Arthur Fell, M.P., who presided, said the result of tho postcard plebiscite of the Commons on the tunnel was that, out of 550 members who received cards, there were 322 replies. Of these 310 supported the tunnel, -i were neutral, and 8 were opposed to it. He emphasised the fact that this was not purely an English scheme, as some supposed, but that France was equally interested and would be consulted at every stage. Sir Francis Fox said that the scheme was to build tho tunnel by,sinking shafts and driving a slightly rising galleryone in a thousand. This would enable them to get into the §rey chalk, which would give dry conditions. The whole problem was to get under the water. People wondered why the London tubes were sunk so deep—the reason was to got to a dry bed. Under the Channel, and under the white chalk, was the grey chalk, which would seal off the water and give them a "drop dry" tunnel. The tests hud been very satisfactory. There would be two tunnels, which would be 24 miles long under tho sea, and, with the land ends added, probably 32 to 33 miles long altogether. 'They would bo driven 100 feet below the bed of the Channel, and would be large enough to take the main lino trains. They were sure of the geological formation, which the tunnel would follow, and in any case the scheme could be carried out. He referred to the experience engineers had had with the Simplon Tunnel in illustration of tho scheme. Tho tunnel would bo lined throughout, so that nothing could fall on the - railroad. The pressure would be small compared with the Simplon. Tho lining would at first be made with castiron segments, to bo moved forward as the work progressed, and replaced with ferro-concreto blocks. There would be a water lock which they could flood 60 that, oven a rat could not get through, and thoy would resorvo to tlicmeolves tho right' to blow up some portion of tho tunnel in case of an emergency. Water would be pumped out from tho English side by a power station 10 or 12 miles inland. Tho power of flooding 'the tunnoli; would be in the hands of the Dover Commandant by n simple expedient. The whole of tho work would be carried out by electricity, and the trains run by electricity. There wcro the gravest difficulties about a viaduct scheme, which he condemned. The work of boring could be dono at the rate of 50ft. per (lav. Tho two ends would be between Folkestone and Boulogne, and between Grisnez and Calais. Ho dwelt on tho advantages of trains running through to all parts of Europe, and eventually joining up with tho Bagdad Railway to Cairo, and pertaps with the Cape to Cairo Jiailwav. Sir Francis concluded by saying that ho would not favour such a' scheme if he believed it involved any political or material disadvantage to cur country, but he felt that it would be of tho greatest benefit to our trade and intercourse.