Dear Brendan Whyte

I live in the UK and have often travelled by train in the UK and in Europe -
frankly I am not sure which side trains travel in Europe.

My experience is that Eurostar on a dedicated track travels is on the left
all the way from London Waterloo to the Gare du Nord Paris and to Brussel
Zuid. Consequently there is no crossover between UK and France.

Also in Switzerland Belgium and generally in France it is left.

Your question about the border between France & UK is interesting. I believe
that the maritime border is straight down the middle of the Straits of
Dover/ Pas de Calais because both countries claim 12 mile territorial waters

As to the tunnel I am not aware of any white line in the tunnel and I
believe that the situation is covered by a bilateral treaty or treaties
between the UK and France. In particular cars travelling on Le Shuttle
technically pass through French passport and customs control at Folkestone
and thereafter are "in France" while cars travelling from Calais-Frethun do
the opposite and are technically "in the UK" after UK customs and
immigration at Calais. On a train from London to France I believe you are
"in the UK" until the train enters the tunnel when you are "in France" and
vice versa applies - this could be a problem going to Brussel via
Lille/Rijsel in that you are not in Belgium or France until you arrive at
Brussel Zuid customs & immigration.

The matter about renaming Waterloo was a flash in the pan journalist's joke

We Brits will certainly not change the station's name and if pushed would be
delighted to rename a few others after other victories against the French.
Of course the French are fully entitled to rename their stations as they
wish !!

 I cannot comment on the legal costs of all the above.
Finally please can you tell us more about the maritime border between
Australia & Indonesia
in the East Timor Sea - to say nothing of the shady oil deals involved.

Regards Christopher Mawhood








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