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Channel Tunnel: Channel Tunnel Rail Link
built 629 days ago
Section 1 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link is a 74 km (46 mile) section of high-speed track from the Channel Tunnel to Fawkham Junction in north Kent, opened in September 2003. Opening of section 1 cut the London–Paris journey time by around 21 minutes, to 2 h 35 min. The first section includes the Medway Viaduct, a 1.2 km (¾ mile) bridge over the River Medway and the North Downs Tunnel, a 3.2 km (2 mile) long, 12 m (40 ft) diameter tunnel. In safety testing on the section prior to opening, a new UK rail speed record of 334.7 km/h (208.0 mph) was set.[6] Eurostar trains continue to use suburban lines to enter London, with the existing Waterloo International Terminal. Much of the new high-speed line runs alongside the M2 and M20 motorways through Kent.
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The £5.8bn Channel Tunnel Rail Link is the UK’s first dedicated high speed line, and links London with the Channel Tunnel. The new line will cut the journey time from London to Europe by 20 minutes. It will be used for domestic high-speed services from Kent from December 2009, greatly reducing journey times for commuters in South East London and Kent and providing extra peak time services into London. Almost £10bn in regeneration benefits has been generated, providing an estimated 50,000 new jobs and 30,000 new homes in East London and the Thames Gateway.
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A high-speed rail track has been in operation on the French and Belgian sections of the Eurostar rail link since the Channel Tunnel's opening, carrying trains at 300km/h. In Britain trains have had to share existing standard track with local traffic, limiting average speeds to 100km/h. In addition, the generally poor state of Britain's rail infrastructure has caused frequent and unpredictable delays.
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The £5.2 billion Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) is the UKÕs first new high speed line. The company responsible for constructing the CTRL is London and Continental Railways (LCR). Originally the new line was to be constructed as one... in 1998 following a restructuring of the project it was agreed that the CTRL would be constructed in two phased sections. Section 1 is currently under construction and runs from the Channel Tunnel to Fawkham Junction in north Kent. Section 2 started in July 2001 and completes the line into LondonÕs St Pancras. Railtrack are the future owners of Section 1 and will maintain and operate the entire line upon completion.
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The Channel Tunnel Rail Link is the new high speed railway line of 109 km (68 miles) being constructed between the Channel Tunnel in Kent and St Pancras station in London. It will be the first major new railway in Britain for over a century.
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Construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) is a great achievement. The project has been completed within time and budget. International journey times have been reduced and high-speed domestic train services from Kent would be introduced over the next few years, greatly reducing journey times into central London.
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Channel Tunnel Rail Link