HL Deb 09 February 1982 vol 427 c168WA
Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What would be the total cost (to France and the United Kingdom) at 1981 prices of—

  1. (a) British Rail's proposed single one-track Channel tunnel; and
  2. (b) of British Steel's proposed combined bridges and tunnel,
including the cost of service tunnels, new installations near the tunnel portals, new locomotives and rolling stock and any other associated costs; how long it is estimated each version would take to complete, and how many additional jobs British Rail and British Steel estimate would be created (in terms of full-time jobs per year) during the construction of the tunnel or combined bridge/tunnel.

The Earl of Avon

The Government can only give the estimates of the promoters. British Rail's estimate of the total cost of a single tunnel and associated facilities (coastal terminals, inland rail improvements and terminal facilities in London and Paris) plus the cost of new rolling stock etc. updated to January 1981 prices is £1,226 million. On a similar basis, British Steel's estimated cost of the combined viaduct/immersed tube scheme "EuroRoute" (assuming that inland rail costs will be similar to those estimated by BR/SNCF) is £4,377 million. Both schemes would take about six years to complete from starting date. BR estimate that an annual average of 4,300 people will be employed in the UK building the link, with further 3,900 employed off site (including building rolling stock etc.). In addition BR claim that about 4,000 jobs will be generated indirectly during construction. "EuroRoute" estimate that about 6,000 people will be employed building the link with about 44,000 in associated jobs throughout the UK employed both directly and indirectly.