Elf scoops tunnel sites

ELF, the French oil group, has beaten off British and US rivals to clinch all the five petrol stations to be built either side of the Channel tunnel, writes Neil Thapar. Passengers travelling on the Channel trains will also be greeted by a 20-foot glass tower, to be erected at the British entrance to the tunnel. The sculpture, made from transparent glass, will incorporate a rotating black cube bearing Elf's corporate logo.

Elf was granted rights to three petrol stations on the French side and the other two on British soil after winning a competitive tender by Eurotunnel. 'These stations will be the flagships of our network,' Christian Cleret, managing director of Elf UK, said.

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