LONDON: The tunnel under the English Channel, opened in 1994 with the promise of revolutionising travel and fostering European cooperation, is under water in many ways these days.
Passenger numbers on Eurostar, the rail service that links London to Paris and to Brussels via the tunnel, have plunged amid competition from low-cost airlines, marketing mistakes, high-profile delays and a global downturn in travel. It is betting that a speedier journey – coming soon – will fill the empty seats.