The combined project is perhaps the largest engineering feat ever attempted by two countries as a joint venture project during this century. A brand new rail terminal has been designed and built to cater for the planned expansion of rail passengers towards and beyond the year 2000, the name of the project is Waterloo International Terminal, Channel Connection.

It is envisaged that millions of passengers per year will pass through the terminal on their way to destinations throughout European community. Construction of the new terminal is somewhat unique in that the main rail platform is directly above the passenger arrival, departure lounges and service areas. Access to and from the platform is by Escalator and travelator moving walkways, in order to meet legislation regarding fire compartmentation all escalators and travelators between the upper and lower levels had to be sealed against the spread of fire between the upper and lower levels.

Northern Doors (U.K.) Ltd. provided a solution to the problem by designing and manufacturing twelve Escalator Shutters fully certified by the Loss Prevention Council to Four hours fire resistance.

Northern Doors manufactured a total of twelve units up to 15 metres in length, the projects was somewhat unique in that some of the shutters coil boxes needed to be housed high above the Travelling Walkway, this meant that the shutters travelled down a steep 30 degree incline when closing as shown on the Photograph.