European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 5, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Paris to London through the Channel. Last month regular passenger service aboard the High Speed euro Star trains linking Paris and London through the Channel Tunnel began. On the first Day two associated press reporters travelled from the arc Detriomphe in Paris to Trafalgar Square in London one taking the euro Star and the other an Airliner. Though an array of variables affect the duration of travel by both Means the a travellers tied to the minute each taking 3 hours 55 minutes. Following Are their accounts All times Are Central european time. By Christopher Burns the associated press. He race began at the arc Detriomphe in a dark drizzle As Paris awoke. After warming up in a cafe with a Jolt of express the journey started. 7 32 . A enter the subway take an express train to the Gare do Nord station. 7 47 a arrive at station walk to an 1. V Airport style ticket Check in separately built for the euro Star. 7 54 a line up for ticket Check and Security scanners entering a glassed in waiting Section ultramodern and brightly lit with stainless steel lamps. Attendants in deep Blue uniforms Greet the passengers. 8 00 a after running a Gauntlet of to and still cameras outside step onto the train a Blue yellow and White line of 18 cars with nearly 800 seats. Inside Are journalists foreign tourists and business executives. 8 07 a the euro Star eases into the Dawn running at a moderate clip until Kilometre 20 mile 12when it reaches the special track for High Speed trains. By Kilometre 30, it reaches its maximum Speed of 180 Mph. The Countryside shoots by As it would from a Low flying plane but the ride is smooth. Passengers stroll Chat buy drinks in the bar car. \ first class passengers have a symbolic Anglo French breakfast of sliced bread Ham and cheese a croissant Yogurt and Orange marmalade. Second class passengers complain their less Jush seats won t recline. 9 15 a the train slows to 120 Mph to pass through the Lille area then picks up Speed again after turning Westward toward the coast. Agents Check passports a practice that persists while Europe wrangles Over How to ease Border restrictions. A 9 35 a with a slight whoosh the euro Star shoots into the 31-mile-Long Channel running at 100 Mph through the world s largest engineering project it bored at a Cost of $15 billion through a layer of Chalk under the seabed. 9 55 a the train exits into Rainy English Countryside dotted with sheep and tidy red Brick Homes. 9 58�? All seems to be smooth going when the euro Star slows to a halt. A conductor Over the intercom reports there s a signal problem. _ 10 02 a the train begins to Roll again slowly taking several minutes to reach its top Speed of 90 Mph on the English track the euro Star has to share with other trains. The Driver of the first euro Star passenger train to take a regular run looks out the window of the train at the care do Nord station in Paris. Britain is not expected to Complete a High Speed track before the end of the Century when the euro Star trip will be Cut from 3 hours to vhf. Quot 11 13 a arrival at Waterloo station in a shiny Glass and steel Section built for euro Star. 11 17 a sail through customs after filling outa. A Landing  take a taxi to Trafalgar Square. 11 27 a touch one of the Bronze Lions a Trafalgar Square 3 hours 55 minutes after leaving the arc Detriomphe. A round trip Paris London ticket on the euro Star train costs $308 for first class $248 for second class. A is 50 second class fare is available under certain conditions if booked at least two weeks in Advance. Standard parts London round trip airfares Range from about $500 for business class to an Apex fare of about $160. Or Over the Channel by Patrick Mcdowell the associated press he fastest air route was picked for the big race using Small City Airport in East Londom flying to further out Heathrow or Gatwick would have added up to an hour. A but the flier s Edge a a 55-minute flight is. A 3-hour, 6-minute train ride a slipped away due a late Takeoff heavy traffic and. Long walks making subway connections. 7 04 . A enter taxi at arc de a Trio Mph. Commuter traffic not thick yet. Arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport in what taxi Driver Jean Pierre Marais Calls a a pretty Good Quot 22 minute. 7 26 a speedy no baggage Check in thanks to a machine that scans ticket and assigns feet. Cursory passport inspection. A 7 50 a after three minutes in waiting lounge invited to Board bus that will take us to plane. Fellow passengers read free newspapers waiting for All 46 to get on. Bus leaves at 8 10. A i can see myself using the train Quot said Graham Hanson 43, a British telecoms marketing executive who makes about 40 Cross Channel trips a year. A they have to show they can keep it to three hours. If the Price is sensible Why not take it Quot a 8 15 a passengers Duck to avoid Low roof on plane debate whether to keep on overcoats against chill. 8 36 a Takeoff 16 minutes after scheduled departure. Pilot Daniel Ramaswamy 45, later blames Long taxi from Southern Gate to Northern runway _ 901 a breakfast is served cold rubbery croissant Ham and cheese Finger Sandwich  cheese Citrus slices Orange juice Coffee. Quot there is Little time to relax and the twin Turboprop air France atr-42 is noisy. A 7 _. 9 31 a severe turbulence during Landing approach into 50-knot wind nearly dislodge breakfast. 9 36�?land at City Airport built on the Industrial wastelands of thames docklands. _ 9 48 a Breeze through passport control no one at Gate. Big question a whether to take taxi through crowded London streets to Trafalgar Square or try the subway. 9 53 a with 20 people already in line for a handful of taxis choose subway. Board shuttle bus bound for a subway station. \ 10 00 a bus becomes immediately snarled in traffic. Arrives at Liverpool station in City business District after 25 minutes. 10 25 a Long walk through underground corridors to find Correct train platforms. Only connection at Bank station takes 12 minutes since its partially closed for repairs and passengers diverted to net station along line. 10 52 a arrive embankment. Walk 400 Yards to 7 Trafalgar Square. 10 59 a touch Nelson s column confident of Victory. But i learn later that colleague arrived in same elapsed time without half the hassles. _ a. _ noon a vow to take Channel next time. Through the Channel 1 All aboard mum 2 passengers departing from Folkestone or Calais pass through a toll area Border controls and a Security checkpoint. Terminals include restaurants shops restrooms Gas and service stations. Signs in French and English offer guidance. Boarding the shuttle Drivers Park cars buses or motorcycles in train can called  each shuttle is pulled by two electric locomotives and can carry up to 180 cars. Vehicles up to 6 feet High will travel in double deck cars larger trucks and buses in single Deckers. Motorists will drive through loading doors and through the shuttle until an attendant tells them to Park. Internal ramps in the loading cars provide Access to upper decks. 3 inside Tho shuttle plan of double deck shuttle firs shutter door car and bus passengers remain with their vehicles motorcyclists spend the journey in passenger compartments. Truck Drivers however be separated from their vehicles and go to an air conditioned club car. The shuttles Are Well lighted and fitted with windows although there a no View for the 28 minutes of undersea travel. A a 1 ii. The Channel May be a modern Day Marvel Buttic concept Date to the 19 Century. In 1b02.napoleon Lengi Wex i in Dpi Tho Coo created plans for Tunnel travel via a images. That prove aft Troug when France and Brito to War Britain shelved Utor vol Llyl Iii 9v<8 an Sec atty a big a  i ports today is 01 mate mad risks   safety and Security the biggest threat to safety in the Channel is fire. Developers Are pushing prevention smoking and All hazardous materials Are banned. Also motorists May not open the hoods of their cars. Each car has fire doors that can hold Back flames for 30 minutes Long enough for the train to reach the terminal or the fire escape hatches that Lead to the service Tunnel. Also the cars Are _ equipped with fire detectors and extinguishers. The Chain Tuit Nal consists of two parallel one Way train tunnels and a service Tunnel m Nav m fit i i m �1 .>3 i the last major earthquake Shook the Channel area in 1313, but just in Case the Channel is it earthquake proof. Channel Waters Are notoriously Choppy a a aggressive a developers say. They designed the Channel Walls to. Withstand 120 years of use without major teams or cracks. The Tunnel Walls Are lined with Concrete rings reinforced with steel then coated to prevent corrosion. When passengers Board they la receive information on exits and evacuation procedure. The first priority is to move people nearest the danger. For example if a vehicle in one Wagon caught fire those _ passengers would be moved to another Wagon. The train would continue to the nearest terminal. For More dangerous situations _ passengers can be evacuated through the fire doors into the service Tunnel. They would either go on to the opposite rail Tunnel to be picked up by another train or wait in the service Tunnel for an emergency vehicle. The British Are determined to keep rabies out of England. Animals Are banned from the trains and electrified barriers on the Tunnel floors will serve As the last line of defense against rats foxes Etc. Amp a a a. It s a amp 3v.v.v.v.v.v.vv.v.-.v.-v source eur Tunnel connections from the Channel Tunnat take the traveler to n major european cities including London Parle and  Quot a a. / v / r . . ,,-.v.v/.-.r. .v.>vr.v.-.vrr/.nm/,./,  design and graphic by bit Schroader written by Eitzen Glanton associated press the stars and stripes 16 the stars and stripes monday december 5,1994