Passenger Safety

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Transport – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 3 Mehefin 1991.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Roger Freeman Mr Roger Freeman , Kettering 12:00, 3 Mehefin 1991

I am sure that Eurotunnel will consider whatever sensible and practical alternatives are available. Recently, I had the pleasure and privilege of travelling through the channel tunnel—I think that I was the first Minister, either French or British, to do so. The journey took four and a half hours on one of the construction trains, but it will take around 30 minutes for the shuttles to travel between Folkestone and Calais underneath the channel. Passengers will be able to get out of their cars and travel from one vehicle to the next, but they will not be able to travel the entire length of the train. It remains to be seen whether passengers are prepared to accept this, but the Government firmly believe that the channel tunnel service will be a success.