The Eurotunnel
Discussion
We went across on the 21st for the Belgium GP and back on the 23rd.
We had a five hour delay on the Friday and an eight hour on the Sunday. Sunday we should have been on the 20:36 train and didn't get put on until 04:50 the following day!
It is the third time I have used it this year, and on all three occasions there has been a delay of greater than an hour. It is just not fit for purpose anymore.
I wrote a complaint on Saturday and got an automatic response back saying they normally response within 28 working days. Yes, twenty eight working days... five and a half weeks... But, due to a 'high level' of complaints they were predicting it would take longer.
Nothing like customer service!
We had a five hour delay on the Friday and an eight hour on the Sunday. Sunday we should have been on the 20:36 train and didn't get put on until 04:50 the following day!
It is the third time I have used it this year, and on all three occasions there has been a delay of greater than an hour. It is just not fit for purpose anymore.
I wrote a complaint on Saturday and got an automatic response back saying they normally response within 28 working days. Yes, twenty eight working days... five and a half weeks... But, due to a 'high level' of complaints they were predicting it would take longer.
Nothing like customer service!
I came back to the UK on th 24th and instead of going straight to the booths, I was directed to a 'Welcome Area' which was just a holding pen surrounded by wire fences!
The fact that they cannot manage the capacity is a joke (I know you can purchase drive up tickets but why is that factored in?) especially as the ticket prices have increased hugely over the past 4 years. I booked my crossing at the beginning of the year and a return journey was 200 quid when it used to cost around 60% of that.
Still, I do around 3 or 4 journeys a year and it is always quicker to use the tunnel. I still wish Speed Ferries was operating.
The fact that they cannot manage the capacity is a joke (I know you can purchase drive up tickets but why is that factored in?) especially as the ticket prices have increased hugely over the past 4 years. I booked my crossing at the beginning of the year and a return journey was 200 quid when it used to cost around 60% of that.
Still, I do around 3 or 4 journeys a year and it is always quicker to use the tunnel. I still wish Speed Ferries was operating.
krallicious said:
I came back to the UK on th 24th and instead of going straight to the booths, I was directed to a 'Welcome Area' which was just a holding pen surrounded by wire fences!
The fact that they cannot manage the capacity is a joke (I know you can purchase drive up tickets but why is that factored in?) especially as the ticket prices have increased hugely over the past 4 years. I booked my crossing at the beginning of the year and a return journey was 200 quid when it used to cost around 60% of that.
Still, I do around 3 or 4 journeys a year and it is always quicker to use the tunnel. I still wish Speed Ferries was operating.
I booked a one way ticket with 2 days notice to travel last week and paid 113 euros, about 83 GBP, traveling at a peak time 6pm.The fact that they cannot manage the capacity is a joke (I know you can purchase drive up tickets but why is that factored in?) especially as the ticket prices have increased hugely over the past 4 years. I booked my crossing at the beginning of the year and a return journey was 200 quid when it used to cost around 60% of that.
Still, I do around 3 or 4 journeys a year and it is always quicker to use the tunnel. I still wish Speed Ferries was operating.
MKnight702 said:
Once we got off the train in the UK most of the British cars moved immediately to the central lane on the M20 however, that is a separate issue.
I've pretty much given up on the Eurotunnel for short trips. The last trips before I banned it, it had a 100% screw up rate which meant waiting sometimes for a couple of hours past the booked time. For weekend trips, a couple of hours is a lot so bzzzzt to Eurotunnel there.
Then for longer trips where you can afford to waste a couple of hours, you can have a high probability of wasting a couple of hours waiting for a Eurotunnel train or you can just take a ferry which will take longer, but they are more consistent and they are cheaper.
With migrants trying it on at the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais, that is yet another reason to make alternative arrangements.
Borghetto said:
I'm intending to drive to Nice in November, I think given the experiences of other posters; I might give the ferry a try on this occasion.
Yes and get stuck at Dover due to the weather or even worse circling outside Calais for a few hours as happened to me some years ago. If there is any time to use the tunnel it's between November and March when the weather can be very unpredictable. Use the tunnel.Borghetto said:
I'm intending to drive to Nice in November, I think given the experiences of other posters; I might give the ferry a try on this occasion.
In November? These guys have been travelling peak periods. I use eurotunnel about 4 times a year. So far I have been very lucky and often get an earlier train. I don't normally travel peak times. Just have to accept its always slow at passport control on the way home.Went over a few weeks ago, and Folkestone was absolutely painless - turned up early Sunday morning, was given the option of an earlier train so had time to pick up currency and use the facilities before boarding.
The way back was late Wednesday evening, and the Calais terminal had no delays getting through passport control to the terminal but a half hour delay to the trains, but the facilities there are obviously too small for peak throughput with queues for everything - it just reminded me of the worst motorway services at half term. Even that probably won't be enough to convert me to the ferry though I might just be more likely to find an early crossing on the return leg.
The way back was late Wednesday evening, and the Calais terminal had no delays getting through passport control to the terminal but a half hour delay to the trains, but the facilities there are obviously too small for peak throughput with queues for everything - it just reminded me of the worst motorway services at half term. Even that probably won't be enough to convert me to the ferry though I might just be more likely to find an early crossing on the return leg.
I've been using the tunnel for years. Only once did I have a bad delay, train broken down Lemans weekend. The delay meant we hit Paris @ 5pm Fri rather than 2pm. Irritating but not a disaster.
Generally I think it's rather good value for money, and very convenient. No problem swapping times, or even days, so I don't actually see the point in the flexible ticket. I'm guessing peak holiday times can be a bit of a mare, but so can all forms of travel.
Generally I think it's rather good value for money, and very convenient. No problem swapping times, or even days, so I don't actually see the point in the flexible ticket. I'm guessing peak holiday times can be a bit of a mare, but so can all forms of travel.
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