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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, February 15, 1980
Page 11
Even though ECU is an acronym for European Currency Unit, it is significant
that there was an earlier "Ecu"--the French gold or silver coin of that
name, used from 1266 to 1803. We've received no other information regard
ing this development, but we'll keep looking.
"Chunnel" Project Nears Approval
Another development deserves considerably more attention. According to a
report published in the January 27, 1980 Daily Telegraph, the British
government is to soon approve the building of a tunnel beneath the English
Channel between Britain and France. The on-again-off-again project is
expected to cost approximately $1-1/2 billion dollars ar-d it will be
financed by private capital.
"Money from the Common Market may also be available," reports the Tele
graph's industrial correspondent. "This would go a long way to meet
government objections to the size of Britain's contribution to the EEC.
The scheme, which has been put forward jointly by British Rail and French
Railways will consist of a single rail tunnel with a smaller service
tunnel alongside. The scheme could be operating by 1988."
Agreement from the French government is to be held up until formal
announcement is made by British governmental officials. The French were
left hanging on a limb when the previous Labour government cancelled an
earlier tunnel attempt in 1975--after digging had already begun a mile
and-a-half at both the English and French sides entrances.
Sir Peter Parker, chairman of British Rail, has had a series of successful
meetings with European Community officials and members of the European
Parliament. Mr. Parker has been an enthusiastic backer of the tunnel
project. "Let us seize the opportunity this time," he says.
Under the plan five trains an hour would run between London and Paris and
Brussels with a maximum of 120 trains a day. The journey to Paris would
take four hours and 30 minutes,with the Brussels run ten minutes shorter.
It is estimated that there would be 6 million passengers in the first year.
A yearly growth of between 2-1/2 and 3 percent is expected. Eight million
tons of freight a year are also expected to be handled.
(The tunnel
could eliminate the need to expand London's already overcrowded Heathrow
Airport.)
The cost of the project is to be kept down by initially constructing only
a single track rail tunnel. (The 1975 plan consisted of two tunnels, with
traffic in each direction.) Traffic will be run in "flights" with several
trains going in the same direction before the return journeys are made.
In case of emergency or breakdown of a train, rescue crews or engineers
will be able to reach the spot using the smaller service tunnel running
alongside.
The project still faces one more hurdle. If the Common Market Commission
decides to contribute an estimated 20% of the cost, all the individual
EEC countries will have to approve the outlay. Some Common Market
countries who would not benefit as directly as would Britain, France and
Belgium might object. Shipping and airline interests might object. A
return [round-trip] London-Paris fare is projected at about $45-50.
Present air fares are over twice to four times as high.) Nevertheless,
as another Telegraph dispatch (October 11, 1979) reported: