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Opening of the first section of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link
The first 46-mile section of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link between Folkestone and Fawkham Junction in north Kent was opened on 28 September 2003.
Prior to the opening to public service, this section of the new high-speed track was officially inaugurated by the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, on 16 September 2003.
The new UK high-speed network will reduce journey times aboard the Eurostar from London to Paris and Brussels. 20 minutes have already been saved thanks to the opening of the first section.
The current journey times :
The top speed of Eurostar trains on this new track reaches 186 mph (300 kph).
The second section of this high-speed railway to St Pancras in London will probably be completed in 2007.
The new journey times after the opening of the second section :
The estimated cost of this new high-speed line : 7.7 billion euros.
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