What is the Channel Tunnel Rail Link?
The Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) is the first major new railway to be constructed in the UK for over a century. The 108km track will stretch from Central London to the Channel Tunnel, connecting Britain directly with Europes expanding high speed rail network and significantly reducing journey times for passengers. It is one of the largest engineering projects to be undertaken by the Department for Transport and the first section of the line has been successfully completed both on time and on budget – a significant achievement. This link is being built in two separate sections. The first section of the route, a 43km stretch through Kent from the Channel Tunnel to the outskirts of London has been completed. The second section, which continues the route towards a new international terminal at St Pancras will open in 2007. Why was a faster track needed? Eurostar – the passenger service linking London to Paris and Brussels- commenced services in 1994. On the continent, high speed railway
