Financing the Channel Tunnel

The Channel Tunnel offers a rail transport link between both the motorway and the trunk rail systems of France and England. The national railways will operate passenger and freight trains linking major British and Continental cities and Eurotunnel itself will operate a service between terminals adjacent and linked to the motorways near Folkestone and Calais, carrying private cars, long-distance buses and trucks - all in large, specially built rail wagons. The basis of the project financing is the 55-year Concession. The Governments of France and the United Kingdom have pledged that, subject to their safety and security regulations, Eurotunnel will be able to build and operate. Fixed transportation systems across the Channel without competition until 2020; with no government subvention for any competition thereafter and with freedom to set fares and tariffs to market levels in competition with ferries and airlines.