英吉利海峡隧道百年规划史

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Lesson 64. 第64课

The Channel Tunnel. 英吉利海峡隧道

In 1858, 1858年

a French engineer, 一位法国工程师

Aimé-Thomé de Gamon, Aimé-Thomé de Gamon

arrived in England with a plan for a 21-mile tunnel under the English Channel. 带着一个在英吉利海峡下修建21英里隧道的计划来到了英国

He said that it would be possible to build a platform in the center of the channel. 他说可以在海峡中央建一个平台

This platform would serve as a port and a railway station. 这个平台可以当港口和火车站用

The tunnel would be well ventilated if tall chimneys were built above sea level. 如果建一些高过海面的烟囱，隧道就能通风良好

In 1860, 1860年

a better plan was put forward by an Englishman, William Lowe. 一个英国人William Lowe提出了一个更好的方案

He suggested that a double railway tunnel should be built. 他建议建一条双轨铁路隧道

This would solve the problem of ventilation. 这样就能解决通风问题

For if a train entered this tunnel, 因为如果有火车开进隧道

it would draw in fresh air behind it. 它会把新鲜空气从后面吸进来

42 years later, 42年后

a tunnel was actually begun. 隧道真的开始动工了

If at the time the British had not feared invasion, 如果当时英国人没担心会被入侵

it would have been completed. 隧道早就建成了

The world had to wait almost another hundred years for the Channel Tunnel. 世界又等了差不多一百年才等到英吉利海峡隧道

It was officially opened on March 7th, 它于1994年3月7日正式开通

1994, 终于把英国和欧洲大陆连在了一起

finally connecting Britain to the European continent. 终于把英国和欧洲大陆连起来了