FEATURE ARTICLE SHORTENED HEADLINE
In the 1980s , Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and President Francois Mitterand agreed that with a peaceful Europe established , linking England and France would boost business both ways .
A competition was launched to find an efficient , cost-effective and safe model . Eurotunnel ’ s winning project features two railway tunnels and one central service tunnel giving access along the full length of the 50km of running tunnels and allowing efficient maintenance access and emergency evacuation .
Since economic difficulties ended the 1974 attempt , private finance was deemed a safer option . Money was raised from shareholders and banks with an original budget of £ 2.5bn .
It took three more years from first contact to complete and link the two railway tunnels , install the equipment , terminals , track , maintenance
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