Documentary: Building The Channel Tunnel: Race To The Finish, Channel 5, 9pm

The pace hots up as the British and French tunnellers race towards the breakthrough point, which occurs on December 1, 1990, when the two sides meet. By 1994, the tunnel was open for business but in 1996 a catastrophic fire highlighted the dangers of operating a railway tunnel that is 31 miles long. Director of Public Affairs John Keefe (left) reveals all about the fire safety systems within the tunnels and on the trains.