History Daily: The First Passenger Train Through the Channel Tunnel

Host: Lindsey Graham
Episode Date: November 14, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of History Daily takes listeners through the extraordinary story of the Channel Tunnel—also known as the Chunnel—and, specifically, the historic first passenger train journey through the tunnel on November 14, 1994. Host Lindsey Graham weaves together a gripping narrative of decades-old ambitions, staggering engineering feats, international cooperation, and the personal experiences of those who turned an audacious vision into reality.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Vision and Historic Breakthrough (00:00–03:35)

• Opening Scene:
  Lindsey Graham sets the stage with a vivid account of December 1, 1990, as British engineer Graham Fagg chips through the final rock beneath the English Channel and meets the French tunneling team.
  • Quote:

    “Graham puts down his drill and cameras flash again as he becomes the first person to walk from the British Isles to mainland Europe since the end of the Ice Age.”
    — Lindsey Graham [01:54]

• Historical Context:
  The episode notes that it would take another four years after this 1990 connection for the tunnel to be fully operational for passengers, culminating in the historic event of November 14, 1994.

2. Decades of Planning and International Collaboration (03:35–08:44)

• Early Proposals & Politics (03:35–05:32):

  • Fantasies about a UK-France link date back to the 19th century; attempts in the 1880s failed due to security fears and lack of financing due to historical animosity.
  • By the 1980s, international relations thawed, and the vision was revived under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and President François Mitterrand.
    • Quote:

      “For centuries, Britain and France had regularly been at war, and many believed that a physical link between the two would be disastrous for the security of both nations. But in the 20th century, the relationship...became more harmonious, and the idea of a cross-channel transport link was resurrected.”
      — Lindsey Graham [04:25]

• Winning the Bid (05:33–06:20):

  • Four proposals considered: a suspension bridge, a combination of bridges and tunnels, a road tunnel, and a rail tunnel.
  • Scottish engineer Gordon Crichton's company, specializing in subway construction, is part of the winning rail tunnel consortium.

• Early Engineering Challenges (06:21–08:44):

  • Crichton rescues from jetlag in Beijing and is quickly pulled into the Chunnel project as chief engineer.
  • Geological challenges: The British are assigned the longer, drier, more easily tunneled segment (13 miles), while the French handle a shorter but harder section (10 miles).
  • Cutting-edge technology: Japanese-made boring machines are commissioned when domestic companies can’t deliver the right specs or budget.
  • Immense pressure: 5.5 years to complete the dig—already a tight timeline.

3. The Realities of Building the Channel Tunnel (09:55–14:14)

• Unexpected Obstacles (09:55–11:18):

  • Shortly after boring begins, unexpected water seeps into the tunnel, halting work.
  • Relief when engineer Helen Nattress discovers the water is fresh, not seawater—rainwater from before the channel even existed, not a catastrophic leak.
    • Quote:

      “It isn’t salty, and that means it can’t be coming from The English Channel. Instead, it’s fresh water filtered through the rock rain from hundreds of thousands of years ago when the English Channel didn’t even exist.”
      — Lindsey Graham [10:45]

  • Chemical resin and pumps solve the issue and allow progress to resume.

• Risks and Tragedy (11:19–12:47):

  • Incentives for speedy progress sometimes erode safety.
  • Human cost: 10 workers die during construction, from machinery accidents to electrocution.
    • Memorable Moment:

      “Andrew is the first fatality during construction of the Channel Tunnel. But he’s not the last one.”
      — Lindsey Graham [11:48]

• Completion and Milestone (12:48–13:52):

  • In 1990, the British and French tunneling teams meet, aligning their bores to within inches—a triumphant feat celebrated on both sides.
  • Handshakes, passport stamps, and cultural exchanges (sandwiches vs. hot food and champagne).

• The Final Push (13:53–14:13):

  • Gordon Crichton reminds his team, “the job isn’t finished yet.”
  • Still to come: two train tunnels and a central service tunnel, track laying, electrification, and safety systems.
  • Ultimately, the tunnel is completed over 18 months behind schedule, but ready for its first passengers.

4. The Inaugural Passenger Service (15:55–End)

• November 14, 1994, Waterloo Station (15:55–18:45):
  • Train driver Lionel Stevenson prepares for his historic journey. The station buzzes with bands, canapés, and champagne, but Lionel is more focused on the train and the responsibility.
  • Last-minute nerves—and a minor uniform mishap when both drivers forget their hats. They decide timeliness trumps dress code.
    • Quote:

      “Lionel realizes they must have left them in their lockers. After a hurried conference, three men decide to go on without their headwear, figuring it’s better to arrive in France on time and underdressed than be late wearing their hats.”
      — Lindsey Graham [17:03]

  • Departure is just one minute behind schedule; the journey to Paris is smooth.
  • Impact: Today, Eurostar services carry over 18 million passengers annually, connecting London, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the Audacity of the Project:

  “Since nothing has been attempted on this scale before, there’s a high chance of failure.”
  — Lindsey Graham [05:17]

• On Engineering Precision:

  “Thanks to the laser guided boring machines, the two tunnels are only a few inches off target when they meet.”
  — Lindsey Graham [12:59]

• On the Symbolism of the Chunnel:

  “...the first British visitors to travel to France by land in recorded history.”
  — Lindsey Graham [13:32]

• On the Human Cost:

  “Everything that can go wrong probably will.”
  — Lindsey Graham (paraphrasing Gordon Crichton) [08:12]

Timeline of Important Segments

• 00:00–01:54: Graham Fagg breaks through the Channel Tunnel wall—first contact across the channel.
• 03:35–06:20: Challenge of overcoming centuries-old ambitions and politics; Thatcher and Mitterrand’s joint announcement.
• 09:55–12:47: Major construction challenges, including the fresh water leak and fatalities.
• 12:48–13:52: The crucial meeting of British and French tunnels.
• 15:55–18:45: The historic inaugural passenger journey, the overlooked hats, and the legacy of the Eurostar.

Episode Tone & Style

Lindsey Graham delivers the story in an accessible, suspenseful, and empathetic narrative style—balanced between technical insight, human experience, and dramatic storytelling. The episode foregrounds both the ambition and the risk of the Chunnel, honoring not just the leaders and engineers but also the workers whose lives were lost and the everyday people who now benefit from this marvel.

Key Takeaways

• The Channel Tunnel represents decades of aspiration, monumental engineering challenges, and international cooperation.
• The project was fraught with delays, dangers, and deep uncertainty, but culminated in a triumph of precision and persistence.
• The inaugural passenger journey in 1994 was not just a technical milestone, but a profound symbol of connectivity—and a routine reality for millions today.

For Further Listening

For those interested in a deeper dive into other pivotal world events, the next History Daily episode covers the beginning of the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia on November 17, 1989.