By Staff Writer: Kelsie Glenn
Have you ever ridden in a car underwater? Me neither until I took the Le Shuttle through the Chunnel. The Chunnel, also known as the Channel Tunnel, is a 31.4-mile long (50 km) railway tunnel that runs beneath the English Channel, connecting South England with Northern France. It’s not just any tunnel. It is the longest underwater tunnel in the world! It lies about 246 feet (75 meters) below sea level at its deepest point.
When I first heard of the Chunnel, I assumed the name referred to a car tunnel, but I was surprised to learn it is actually a train tunnel. The Le Shuttle train transports vehicles of all sizes, while the Eurostar train whisks passengers at speeds of about 99 miles per hour (160 km). The ride is impressively short, only about 35 minutes to cross the Channel.
One of the coolest parts? You drive your car onto a special car transport train, then chill in your car during the journey. I couldn’t believe how smooth and relaxed the experience was! To top it off, I still had phone service, allowing me to scroll through social media while cruising under the English Channel. It was a surreal experience, feeling like I was floating beneath the waves, yet the journey was so quick that it was almost over before you knew it!