The " Chunnel " between Britain and France is half dug , scheduled to open in three years on schedule , but is almost 60 % over budget , embroiled in contractor disputes over responsibility for $ 1.7 billion in overruns , and scrambling for more investment money after the British government refused to finance a rail link . The British public shows little enthusiasm for the Chunnel , fearing it will attract terrorists , terrorists and invading armies . The French are forging ahead with a high - speed rail link , enthusiastic because the motorway surfaces in one of their more depressed areas . Rural southeast English are reluctant to have high - speed trains screaming through their back yards .
The "Chunnel" between Britain and France is half dug, scheduled to open in three years on time, but is almost 60% over budget, embroiled in contractor dispute over responsibility for $1.7 billion in overruns, and scrambling for more investment money after the British government refused to finance a rail link. The British public shows little enthusiasm for the Chunnel, fearing it will import rabies, terrorists and invading armies. The French are forging ahead with a high-speed rail link, enthusiastic because the tunnel surfaces in one of their more depressed areas. Rural southeast English are reluctant to have high-speed trains screaming through their back yards.