Britain risks failing to take full advantage of the cross - channel " Chunnel " due to the Thatcher government 's announcement ##s that it would not help fund a high - speed rail line between London and the tunnel . This fuels fears that the country 's creaky rail system will isolate travellers . The lack of the high - speed rail link , and improved service beyond , means Britain may miss out on the tunnel 's total benefits . The consortium formed to fund the link asks the government for a financial contribution , which the government says involves " unacceptable " risks to the taxpayer . Industrialists fear poor links will isolate them from the European Community 's single market .
Britain risks failing to take full advantage of the cross-channel "Chunnel" due to the Thatcher government's announcement yesterday that it would not help fund a high-speed rail line between London and the tunnel. This fuels fears that the country's creaky transportation system will isolate Britain. The lack of the high-speed rail link, and improved service beyond, means Britain may miss out on the tunnel's total benefits. The consortium formed to build the link asked the government for a financial contribution, which the government says involves "unacceptable" risks to the taxpayer. Industrialists fear poor links will isolate them from the European Community's single market.