Tunnel linking Europe to Africa planned [2003, with February update]

Yeah, it would be remarkable, but Britain and France (which were in much better position to build the Chunnel, from both an engineering and financial standpoints) wound up way over budget, way behind schedule, and has never made money.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/27/AR2007012701334_2.html — “Also looming large is the red ink incurred by the Chunnel. Private investors, who paid the bulk of the $20 billion price tag, have suffered heavy losses; the operator, Eurotunnel, has verged on bankruptcy for years.”

http://www.fcw.com/blogs/thelectern/chunnel_paris_l_2075-1.html — “the cost of Chunnel overruns was borne by shareholders and bondholders, both of whom lost lots of money.”

http://www.businessweek.com/1997/51/b3558053.htm — (from 1997) “Construction companies lost more than $1 billion on the project. Since the tunnel’s opening, it has produced a $3.2 billion operating loss for Eurotunnel.”

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