Q on recent Eurotunnel troubles

Q on recent Eurotunnel troubles

Author
Discussion

Crimefighter

Original Poster:

152 posts

136 months

Friday 24th July 2015
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Hi all,

I have a Euro road trip planned coming up, and I have a tunnel booking for about 10:30am on a Sunday morning (not this Sunday, the one after).

Have been watching the recent troubles with the strikes and migrant protests on the Calais side, as well as the operation stack road closures on the UK side.

I am unclear if this is affecting ferry travel more than tunnel travel, if the tunnel is being greatly affected, what my chances are of getting through without delays.

Anyone have any idea? Have taken the tunnel a few times before and it has been great, but I am not sure exactly what is happening right now on either side.

Seems like I am going to need to be updated on Stack - and am considering taking the M2 -> A2, then Dover to Folkestone as an alternative route. Thoughts?

CocoPops

463 posts

231 months

Friday 24th July 2015
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I'm travelling on the 09:36 THIS sunday and I'm unsure as to what the best plan is currently.

furtive

4,498 posts

279 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
A friend went through the tunnel this morning. He said it was chaos at the terminal and he was delayed, but got through eventually

CAPP0

19,582 posts

203 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
The only time my travel plans through the tunnel were ever KOd by the French, I swiftly booked a Dieppe ferry. Got booked easily and even managed to change the return booking easily whilst we were out there, due to a change of plan.

It may be that the Dieppe ferries are now fubar as a result of the Calais situation but I'd say it's certainly worth a try, as the French don't (yet) appear to be targeting Dieppe. Or maybe Dunkirk?

Roo

11,503 posts

207 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
There's just been a meeting at Maidstone town hall and they're looking at putting a contraflow on the M20 in the next couple of days to help traffic flow.

Crimefighter

Original Poster:

152 posts

136 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
CocoPops said:
I'm travelling on the 09:36 THIS sunday and I'm unsure as to what the best plan is currently.
I'd be very interested to hear how you get on. I am contemplating getting out there early doors and getting on the earliest train they will let us on.

CocoPops

463 posts

231 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
That was my plan.... but they won't let you check in more than 2hrs before your scheduled time.

So I intend to get there for 7am (2hrs before) and see what happens.

I was looking at twitter today, and someone travelled from Newbury (next town to me) and it took 3.5hrs home to check in. I'm hoping that leaving home at 5am will see me at 2hrs, hence 7am check in.

This is for a trackday at Spa on the Monday, so I HAVE to travel sunday, I cannot delay to Monday.

MX51ROD

2,749 posts

147 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
Now the French are targeting the Chunnel terminal in Calais , so my journey times and plans are in doubt for the journey home .frown

We have booked our caravan into Daleacres CC site directly on our return via the tunnel next week for Daughter and Grandson to have a weeks holiday , us collecting the caravan a week later ,

I appears the French are having flash protests at the entrance to the terminal with heaps of burning tyres , the authorities are doing little to prevent this . The end is just not in sight


We are seriously considering Brittany Ferries Portsmouth / Caen next year , only downside is not being able to use Tesco vouchers to cover cost of trip , with cabin overnight each way , the cost is around £670


Or Cornwall , where it is raining and 20c at present ,just now I am sitting looking at the Dordogne river , 28c and a gentle breeze O the dilemma rolleyes


Busa mav

2,562 posts

154 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
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Came back from Calais this morning, all was good and we were on an earlier train than booked.

Sorry sight to see operation stack , over 30 miles of trucks , nose to tail and 2 lanes of them.

FiF

44,067 posts

251 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
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One thing I don't get about operation stack is why get yourself in it in the first place?

30 miles 2 lanes, even if the tunnel etc went into overdrive it's going to be a while before that lot is cleared. So sitting in that unproductive for days is costing the operator. So why not find another route completely? Even off to Harwich and over to Hoek. Accept that isn't going to handle everything and maybe freight space is fully booked out for weeks.

Crimefighter

Original Poster:

152 posts

136 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
CocoPops said:
That was my plan.... but they won't let you check in more than 2hrs before your scheduled time.

So I intend to get there for 7am (2hrs before) and see what happens.

I was looking at twitter today, and someone travelled from Newbury (next town to me) and it took 3.5hrs home to check in. I'm hoping that leaving home at 5am will see me at 2hrs, hence 7am check in.

This is for a trackday at Spa on the Monday, so I HAVE to travel sunday, I cannot delay to Monday.
How did you get on?

I see there was another eurotunnel invasion last night. It's gettting quite worrying.

johnS2000

458 posts

172 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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Eurotunnel is advising freight to arrange an alternative means of travel! They cannot cope with the present flow .Day trippers have been advised to cancel.

Highways Agency / Police say op stack to last "well into the weekend" .

More illegals will attack again tonight and op stack will extend to the M25 .

The weather is predicted to be another heat wave this weekend so bring plenty of water

Roo

11,503 posts

207 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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The M20 is now closed in both directions between 8 & 9. The diversion along the A20 is taking about an hour.

Advice is to use the M2/A2 then cut down to the M20 from there. Apparently people are driving straight through going that way.

The problem is the migrants keep getting into the freight terminal in France which is causing a lot of problems. There's currently on site delays of up to two hours.

PositronicRay

27,010 posts

183 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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Don't worry, I think Teresa May has it all in hand.

Crimefighter

Original Poster:

152 posts

136 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
Roo said:
The M20 is now closed in both directions between 8 & 9. The diversion along the A20 is taking about an hour.

Advice is to use the M2/A2 then cut down to the M20 from there. Apparently people are driving straight through going that way.

The problem is the migrants keep getting into the freight terminal in France which is causing a lot of problems. There's currently on site delays of up to two hours.
After the A2 do you recommend cutting down the A28 at Canterbury? Or going all the way around to Dover and back up the A20 to the tunnel entrance?

audidoody

8,597 posts

256 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
I drove to Eurotunnel, Coquelles at 4pm yesterday. Maybe I was lucky but the Tunnel CAR lane from the motorway to the terminal was free flowing and there were no delays. The freight lane however is clogged with hundreds of queuing trucks.

audidoody

8,597 posts

256 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
I drove to Eurotunnel, Coquelles at 4pm yesterday. Maybe I was lucky but the Tunnel CAR lane from the motorway to the terminal was free flowing and there were no delays. The freight lane however is clogged with hundreds of queuing trucks.

audidoody

8,597 posts

256 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
I drove to Eurotunnel, Coquelles at 4pm yesterday. Maybe I was lucky but the Tunnel CAR lane from the motorway to the terminal was free flowing and there were no delays. The freight lane however is clogged with hundreds of queuing trucks.

Roo

11,503 posts

207 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
Crimefighter said:
After the A2 do you recommend cutting down the A28 at Canterbury? Or going all the way around to Dover and back up the A20 to the tunnel entrance?
The route most people are using, without holdups , is the B2068.

Crimefighter

Original Poster:

152 posts

136 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
quotequote all
Roo said:
The route most people are using, without holdups , is the B2068.
Thanks, appreciate that!