1858年，一位名叫埃梅·托梅·德·加蒙的法国工程师带着一份在英吉利海峡下修建一条21英里长隧道的方案来到了英国。
In 1858, a French engineer, Aime Thome de Gamond, arrived in England with a plan for a 21-mile tunnel under the English Channel.
他说，在海峡中央建造一个平台是可行的。
He said that it would be possible to build a platform in the centre of the Channel.
这个平台将兼作港口和铁路车站。
This platform would serve as a port and a railway station.
如果在海平面以上建造高大的烟囱，隧道就能得到良好的通风。
The tunnel would be well-ventilated if tall chimneys were built above sea level.
1860年，一位名叫威廉·洛的英国人提出了一个更好的方案。
In 1860, a better plan was put forward by an Englishman, William Low.
他建议建造一条双线铁路隧道。
He suggested that a double railway-tunnel should be built.
这样可以解决通风问题，因为如果一列火车进入这条隧道，它就会把新鲜空气从身后带进来。
This would solve the problem of ventilation for if a train entered this tunnel, it would draw in fresh air behind it.
四十二年后，一条隧道真正动工了。
Forty-two years later a tunnel was actually begun.
如果当时英国人没有担心被入侵，隧道早就完工了。
If, at the time, the British had not feared invasion, it would have been completed.
全世界不得不再等将近一百年，才等来了英法海峡隧道。
The world had to wait almost another 100 years for the Channel Tunnel.
它于1994年3月7日正式开通，终于将英国与欧洲大陆连接了起来。
It was officially opened on March 7, 1994, finally connecting Britain to the European continent.