ABSTRACT
A tunnel link between Britain and the continent of Europe has been considered since the beginning of the 19th century. Various proposals, more or less practicable, have been advanced and rejected on grounds of cost, practicality, nationalism – Britain not wishing to be drawn closer to its continental European neighbours – or security that such a tunnel would offer a military threat to Britain's island status. Only at the end of the 20th century were all these objections overcome; the Eurotunnel is the result.
