How do you call the Tunnel to France?

[Vienaindy]

I'm wondering how you all call it as my BF is calling it the Chunnel and I think he is wrong!

Channel tunnel, often shortened to chunnel.

I call it the channel tunnel, but I remember chunnel being a common phrase when it first opened in the 90s.

He's not 'wrong'. It's not as common now as when it opened, but it's certainly one thing that people can call it and most others will know what he means.

Channel Tunnel. I don't personally call it the Chunnel, but it's hardly an unusual short form -- my sense is that it was more commonly used when it was first opened. If you google 'Chunnel' it gets you the Wiki entry for 'Channel Tunnel'.

ETA. He's certainly not 'wrong'.

It used to be referred to as the chunnel. I only use it about once a year on the Eurostar, so it's the channel tunnel for me. Much better than the Dover - Calais ferry.

I thought "Chunnel" was it's official name.

Channel tunnel.

'Chunnel' has the same effect on me as 'Holibobs'. 🤑

Chunnel was used when it opened, but it didn’t stick. I’d say channel tunnel.

Le Chunnel just for fun.

Yes, English speakers do call it the Chunnel sometimes (Channel + tunnel) and also the Channel Tunnel - more usual now.
(NB: What do you call the tunnel to France?)

I am one of these people....
(picture incoming) 😂😂

Depends on the context.

We’re going to france on the Eurostar.

we’re going to France in the car. Tunnel or ferry? Tunnel for sure, ferry is shit.

kind of thing.

I’ve never heard of the word ‘Chunnel’ 😂

We’ve taken ‘le shuttle’ but never call it that.

I'm not in UK, so quick question for you tunnel lovers -

Is it the same train that is used for cars AND passengers? I think the cars can only drive on at the port in Folkestone, so is that the same train that leaves St. Pancras?

I just wondered, as I thought the train went direct from SP to Calais. Sorry if I'm all mixed up!

I'd love to try it some day....

It was widely called the chunnel when it first opened, now generically I use channel tunnel but if I mean cars on trains I'd say Eurotunnel and passenger trains Eurostar. The trains with cars on are also Le Shuttle (but no one seems to actually say that).

Different trains, same tunnels.

Makes sense but I was never sure. I keep saying I'll go to London for a few days and hop over the Channel on the Shuttle for the experience, then fly home from the nearest airport in France.

Channel tunnel but I am old enough to remember it opening and Chunnel was a commonly used abbreviation then!

I tried this but it didnt work. Pretty sure you have to book tickets

I think it was branded as Chunnel when it first opened/during construction? I.e that was its official name.

Wiki tells me it was first referred to as the Chunnel ib the 1920s when people first started talking about it as a possibility.

I’ve never heard anyone call it the Chunnel.

SE

The shuttle trains that you drive on to at Folkestone are massive double decker things that take hundreds of cars and HGVs. They are quite slow doing only I think 60-70mph through the tunnel. The Eurostar is a passenger-only high speed train that does over 180mph. The tunnel is also used by ordinary freight trains. There are even freight trains that comes all the way from China, taking 18 days to make the journey.

When it first opened it was often called the "Chunnel" on the news and in the papers etc, but that expression has dropped off over the years. Most people just call it the Channel Tunnel these days. I'm old enough to remember the Chunnel days.

Wow....the tunnel goes all the way to China 😂😂😂

Wow that's amazing. It really is a wonderful piece of engineering

How do you call?!