Don’t Forget Your McDramamine

As the Channel Tunnel between England and France prepares to open, one wary ferry operator has come up with a way to defend its turf, or surf rather. With Big Macs.

Stena Sealink, which stands to lose millions of passengers on its Dover-to-Calais route, says a McDonald’s restaurant will be available on its Stena Fantasia ferry by the end of the month.

The tunnel, which opens May 8 to passenger traffic, is pitching a quicker crossing of the English Channel--about 35 minutes. The boat takes an hour longer.

But, pointed out Gareth Cooper, Stena Sealink’s managing director, families will be attracted by the ferry’s new offering. “They’ll never be able to buy a Big Mac on a Channel Tunnel train.”