The Large Electron-Positron Collider

LEP – the largest electron-positron accelerator ever built – was dismantled in 2000. Its 27-kilometre tunnel now hosts the LHC

• 22 May 1981

  Council approves the Large Electron-Positron collider

• 13 September 1983

  Civil engineering begins

• 8 February 1988

  LEP tunnel completed

• 14 July 1989

  Large Electron-Positron collider: First injection

• 13 August 1989

  First collisions

• 13 November 1989

  LEP inauguration ceremony

• 2 November 2000

  LEP's final shutdown